Physical therapists hear these stories every day but the APTA is helping to put patient stories where they will do some good - in front of legislators who can determine your Medicare reimbursement.
The APTA coordinated a recent practice visit with the office of Federal legislator Vern Buchanan (R-Bradenton) on Tuesday, August 6th at a private physical therapy clinic in Bradenton, Florida. The following stories are a good example of what the legislator heard that day...
The 82-year old female patient gave a lucid, moving story about how her physical therapist had 'saved her life' by helping her remain living at home after a fall and a hip fracture. She mentioned she was already at the 'hard cap' of $3,700 in 2013 and didn't know how she could continue to pay for the services of her therapist even at the reduced frequency of one time per week.
The male patient, a retired veterinarian, told a very funny story of dislocating his shoulder by, believe it or not, walking his big dog. He was offered imaging and surgery by an orthopedic surgeon who owns therapy services. The patient said he wanted to think about these two options and, in the meantime, could he get a referral to physical therapy? That was three months ago and he now has full passive ROM. He is in no pain. He is also at the 'hard cap' but he credits his physical therapist with preventing what was, in his opinion, an unnecessary surgery.Therapy Cap is top-of-mind for physical therapists because we deal with it every day but most legislators and their staff have many other responsibilities. Patient stories help make the recent Therapy Cap legislation REAL for members of the Congress by putting a human face on the problem.
The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act (HR 713) was recently introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Jim Gerlach (R-PA) and Xavier Becerra (D-CA). HR 713 would permanently repeal the $1,900 therapy cap imposed on physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services.
We asked Congressman Buchanan to support HR 713 by attaching it to another bill that is gathering momentum in Washington DC. The Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act (HR 574), introduced by Reps. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Joe Heck, DO (R-NV) provides the following:
- repeal and replace the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula.
- a clearly defined path to permanent Medicare payment reform.
- it includes a multi-year period of payment stability for Medicare providers.
- a stipulated annual payment rate increase of 0.5% to the Physician Fee Schedule.
- CMS will test and evaluate several alternative payment systems including the Alternative Payment System for therapy proposed by the American Physical Therapy Association.
To improve our chances you need to contact your legislators with your patient stories.
