TAKE ACTION! Just a quick note as a follow up to this post: Thanks to Jason Bellamy, Director, Web & New Media, APTA for letting me know about a new action item regarding the ability of physical therapists to opt out of Medicare. On March 21, 2013, Representative Tom Price (R-GA) introduced the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act of 2013 (HR 1310), which would provide physical therapists with the ability to privately contract with Medicare beneficiaries. Everyone can take action on this issue – APTA members, non members, patients and other healthcare professionals! How to Take Action APTA has posted information on Medicare private contracting (“opt out”) in its federal issues area, which includes links for members and nonmembers to be able to take action: http://www.apta.org/FederalIssues/PrivateContracting/ The template action letter can be personalized – it’s a quick and effective way to let your voice be heard. Unfortunately, the Opt Out legislation isn’t one of APTA’s “priority” legislative issues for 2013, which makes it even more necessary to keep the grass roots energy going! Please take a minute to speak out for our profession.
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On my mind today: Following is a list of the Members of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health. We need to contact these folks to ask them to support H.R. 1546 (112th): Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2011. This will amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. By repealing the outpatient rehabilitation caps we will allow patients with chronic illnesses and complicated recoveries to continue to access the care they need to live a full and functional life. If your representative is not on this list, please contact them anyway. Every representative matters. Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health Rep. Kevin Brady, TX, Chairman Rep. Sam Johnson, TX Rep. Paul Ryan, WI Rep. Devin Nunes, CA Rep. Peter Roskam, IL Rep. Jim Gerlach, PA Rep. Tom Price, GA Rep. Vern Buchanan, FL our credit card findercurrent financial climate the Rep. Adrian Smith, NE Rep. Jim McDermott, WA, Ranking Member Rep. Mike Thompson, CA Rep. Earl Blumenauer, OR Rep. Ron Kind, WI Rep. Bill Pascrell, NJ Contact Info: Ways and Means Committee Office 1102 Longworth House Office Building Washington D.C. 20515 P: 202-225-3625 F: 202-225-2610 We also need to ask our representatives to amend Section 1802(b)(5)(B) of the Social Security Act, which currently prohibits physical therapists from entering into private contracts with Medicare patients to provide services. Because the current law does not allow physical therapists to “opt out” of Medicare, small physical therapist owned private practices that do not participate with Medicare are prohibited from treating Medicare patients. This prohibits a significant portion of the population from seeking physical therapy care from the provider of their choice. Nearly all other healthcare providers and physicians are able to “opt out” and many service providers (massage therapists and personal trainers) are not […]
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