« The therapy cap discriminates against Medicare beneficiaries who are in the most need of physical therapy services, » said APTA President Ben F Massey, Jr, PT, MA. « Patients with stroke, hip fracture, Parkinson disease or any other condition that requires extensive rehabilitation are most likely to be affected by this short-sighted Medicare policy. »
A bipartisan group of members of the US Senate and US House of Representatives introduced The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2005(S 438 & HR 916) earlier this year to repeal the financial cap on Medicare outpatient physical therapy benefits. The legislation would eliminate the ongoing threat that would force a significant number of seniors and individuals with disabilities to delay or alter the course of their care by changing providers or facilities.
Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) introduced the Senate legislation and Representatives Phil English (R-PA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), introduced the House legislation. The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2005 currently has 34 cosponsors in the Senate and 170 cosponsors in the House.
« Congress has delayed implementation of the cap three times by placing a moratorium on its enforcement. Congress has only a few legislative days to do what is right by preventing this benefit cut from taking place, » said Massey.
The current moratorium is set to expire December 31, 2005, allowing the cap to be implemented on January 1, 2006, by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Current law provides for two caps on rehabilitation benefits, one for physical therapy and speech therapy and a separate cap for occupational therapy.
The American Physical Therapy Association is a national professional organization representing more than 66,000 members. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education.
See below for Additional Quotes from members of Congress.
The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2005
Quotes from members of Congress
US Rep. Benjamin L Cardin (D-MD)
« I am extremely disappointed that Congress has failed to deal with the many pressing issues affecting Medicare beneficiaries, » said US Rep. Benjamin L Cardin (D-MD). « Failure to address the impending therapy caps jeopardizes the well-being of our seniors and their access to appropriate care. Congress needs to move quickly to repeal these arbitrary limits. »
US House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO)
« Many past reforms to the Medicare system focused on purse strings, rather than patients. This legislation seeks to rectify that situation. We can be fiscally responsible and attend to patients’ needs at the same time, » said US House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO).
US Rep. Phil English (R-PA)
« The therapy cap is particularly devastating for the oldest and frailest Medicare beneficiaries who need and benefit from these services the most. Whether a person receives speech, occupational or physical therapy, it should be a decision made between a doctor and patient, not by accountants monitoring a set limit, » said US Rep. Phil English (R-PA).
US Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
« The therapy cap is unfair to our most vulnerable seniors and disabled Americans, » said US Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR). »I have supported complete repeal of the therapy cap since it was first enacted. In the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, which passed with my support, Congress extended a moratorium on the therapy cap until January 1, 2006. Without Congressional intervention, the therapy cap moratorium will expire on December 31 of this year. Our legislation would repeal this unfair cap for good. » ;
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SOURCE: ; American Physical Therapy Assocation
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