On January 22nd, 2009, 625 physical therapist joined together in Olympia at our state capitol to rally support for SB 5230, removal of the prohibition on spinal manipulation.
See the full article from the Seattle Times
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Let’s Say Goodbye to the Therapy Caps in 2009 – Permanently!
This was posted by Scott Ward, APTA's President, at movingforwardapta.blogspot.com
As 2009 begins, APTA is renewing its fight to repeal arbitrary and harmful Medicare therapy caps that deny access to needed care for hundreds of thousands of senior citizens and patients with disabilities each year. For the 12th consecutive year, APTA’s government affairs team has worked with a bipartisan group of congressional leaders to introduce legislation that will do away with these caps once and for all.
The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act (S.46/H.R.43) was introduced yesterday by Senators John Ensign (R-NV), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Representatives Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Mike Ross (D-AR), and Roy Blunt (R-MO). It calls for the repeal of Medicare therapy caps that limit coverage of outpatient rehabilitation services to $1,840 for physical therapy and speech language pathology combined and $1,840 for occupational therapy services.
As those of us in the physical therapy profession know, these arbitrary limits attempt to “contain costs,” but do so at the expense of quality patient care. By introducing this legislation on the first day of the 111th Congress, our nation's leaders are sending a clear message that total repeal of the caps is the best long-term solution to ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries receive the rehabilitation services they need.
It's time to end the year-to-year fixes and pass legislation that fully protects beneficiaries. Unfortunately, however, a solution to this problem has eluded policymakers for more than a decade. What do you think would be an appropriate and patient-friendly cost containment alternative to the therapy caps?
We hope you will resolve to join us in this fight and ensure that 2009 is the year that Medicare beneficiaries finally receive the care and compassion they deserve.
The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act (S.46/H.R.43) was introduced yesterday by Senators John Ensign (R-NV), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Representatives Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Mike Ross (D-AR), and Roy Blunt (R-MO). It calls for the repeal of Medicare therapy caps that limit coverage of outpatient rehabilitation services to $1,840 for physical therapy and speech language pathology combined and $1,840 for occupational therapy services.
As those of us in the physical therapy profession know, these arbitrary limits attempt to “contain costs,” but do so at the expense of quality patient care. By introducing this legislation on the first day of the 111th Congress, our nation's leaders are sending a clear message that total repeal of the caps is the best long-term solution to ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries receive the rehabilitation services they need.
It's time to end the year-to-year fixes and pass legislation that fully protects beneficiaries. Unfortunately, however, a solution to this problem has eluded policymakers for more than a decade. What do you think would be an appropriate and patient-friendly cost containment alternative to the therapy caps?
We hope you will resolve to join us in this fight and ensure that 2009 is the year that Medicare beneficiaries finally receive the care and compassion they deserve.
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