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The Issue
Medicare permits general supervision of physical therapist assistants by physical therapists in all settings — except for outpatient private practice under Part B, which requires direct supervision. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are governed by their state's practice act and must follow their state licensure requirements if they are more stringent than Medicare’s. However, 49 states permit "general supervision" of physical therapist assistants in outpatient practices, making Medicare’s direct supervision requirement in that setting more burdensome than most state licensure requirements.
Why It Matters
PTAs play a crucial role in the PT-PTA team and help bridge the gap in access to care. Instead, the current direct supervision requirement makes it harder for this access to be provided and threatens physical therapy businesses, particularly in rural and underserved areas where beneficiaries are 50% more likely to receive therapy from a PTA. Enactment of the EMPOWER Act (H.R. 4878/S. 2459) would standardize the supervision requirement from direct to general for private practices, help ensure continued patient access to needed therapy services, and give practices more flexibility in meeting the needs of beneficiaries.
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Recommended Content
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Here's the status of APTA-supported legislation on the fee schedule, telehealth, prior authorization, the PTA differential, and more.
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Aug 1, 2022 / Roundup
District offices, town halls, maybe a visit to your clinic? Here are some topics worth mentioning.
May 10, 2022 / News
Representatives are urging an APTA-backed move to general supervision for PTAs in outpatient settings.
Mar 11, 2022 / News
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Mar 8, 2022 / News
Remember that old saying, "strike while the iron is hot"? Things are hot on Capitol Hill (and there's still time to act).
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Jan 19, 2022 / News
Congress is back in session and the push is on to fix this threat to patient access to care. Your voice is needed.
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The package, which combines additional funding and delays to planned cuts, will be signed into law before year's end.