The Republican super-majority in both the South Dakota House and Senate limited the amount a health insurer may charge a patient for an out-of-pocket copayment or coinsurance amount when they visit a physical therapist or occupational therapist.
After the bill takes effect on July 1, 2012 those copayment and coinsurance amounts cannot be higher than those charged when a patient visits a primary care physician or practitioner.
"The idea behind HB 1183 is that through reduction of financial barriers to care patients will be better able to access the care they need and focus on getting better," said Ronald Van Dyke, PT, OCS, president of SDPTA.
"We believe it will also save healthcare dollars in the long run by preventing unnecessary delays in care that might allow a patient's problem to worsen, requiring higher-cost services like surgery and prescription medication."Read the Press Release at the website of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
