MedPAC suggested in its recent report that the US Congress remove outpatient therapy from its list of services qualifying for the "in-office ancillary services exception" because physicians are not using the exception for its intended purpose and because costs are climbing too quickly.
MedPAC also suggested collecting clinical data as a condition of payment, called Coverage with Evidence Development (CED).
I propose Medicare could deliver better OUTCOMES, save more MONEY and get better VALUE for beneficiaries and taxpayers if collection of clinical data is in place of burdensome, centrally-mandated process measures that waste time, generate excess paperwork and distract highly-paid and well-educated physical therapists from face-to-face interactions with their patients.
Asking physical therapists to examine, evaluate and record patient data is 100% in line with the Guide to Physical Therapist patient management model.
Coverage with Evidence Development could be a positive force leading to a change in physical therapist culture: a shift to a culture of measurement.
If CED were in place of arbitrary process measures as a condition of payment then we could reduce Medicare audits by accountants and lawyers.
However, if CED is just one more centrally-mandated and administrated process measure then we'll all just be working harder.
