After delaying its plans for three months, commercial insurer Aetna has now implemented the 15% PTA payment differential that mirrors the policy adopted by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The new payment system began March 1.

Initially, Aetna announced that the differential would be put in place beginning Dec. 1, 2023, but the insurer put the rollout on hold after APTA and the American Occupational Therapy Association asked that the decision be reconsidered. Aetna described its decision as a delay only.

APTA will continue to engage with Aetna to pursue potential mitigation strategies to reduce the negative impact of the differential.