Medicare Update

Medicare Physical Therapy Cap Update (11/25/03)

Physical Therapists Thank Congress for Removing Obstacles to Needed Physical Therapy Services for Seniors

ALEXANDRIA, VA , November 25, 2003 The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) applaud the Senate's 54 to 44 passage of the Medicare Prescription Drug and Improvement Act (H.R.1/S. 1) this morning and urged President Bush to sign the legislation into law at the earliest possible opportunity to provide immediate help to Medicare beneficiaries in need of rehabilitation care.

As soon as it is signed into law, the legislation will immediately restore a moratorium preventing the enforcement of the $1,590 Medicare therapy cap through 2005. In addition, the bill will prevent a scheduled 4.5 percent cut in Medicare payments to physical therapists and other providers January 1, 2004, replacing it with a 1.5 percent increase in payments next year and in 2005. The bill also requires the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee (MedPAC) to assess the impact of providing Medicare beneficiaries with direct access to physical therapists, as well as significant regulatory reforms and payment increases for physical therapists and other providers in rural areas.

"I'm very pleased that Congress heard our voice and took action to lift the therapy cap, prevent severe payment reductions, and move closer to providing direct access to physical therapists for Medicare beneficiaries," said APTA President Ben F Massey, Jr, PT, MA. "This legislation is a major step toward addressing the critical issues for physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and their patients."

"I want to express the sincere gratitude of APTA's more than 64,000 members to Congress for their dedicated efforts on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries," Massey added. "Much work remains to be done to assure that older Americans and citizens with disabilities have adequate and affordable access to health care, and we look forward to working with Congress to achieve the goal."

The American Physical Therapy Association is a national professional organization representing more than 64,000 members. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research and education.

Source: American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) 11/25/03