Re: $1500 Cap Legislation -Reply

[Guest guest]

It is true that HCFA is considering a per facility cap, but there are legal

problems with such a decision as the law says that it is a per beneficiary

cap. We are in contact with HCFA every day and were involved in the

conference call with HCFA at NASL last week, and not all the information

that was provided by HCFA staff was correct. Until we see something

in writing it is hard to determine exactly what will happen next year. It is

our understanding that even if they implement it as a per facility cap that

there will need to be a good faith effort on the part of the provider to

determine whether the patient is over the $1500 cap. We are providing

an update to the components on Friday as to the status of the cap, but,

as you indicate, it is only an interim report.

The $1500 repeal legislation is not dead for this year, but there is

probably only one bill that is moving and there is little chance that

extraneous items will be included, such as the repeal of the cap. having

said that, we are making every effort to have the repeal bill included in

whatever bill maybe be passed. We are also looking at ways to set the

stage for something to be done early next year. Hope this provides you

with needed information.

>>> Mike Hoon 09/21/99 11:29pm >>>

$1500 Cap Legislation

>Hi!

>

>Can anyone tell me what is happening with - what has happened to the

legislation that proposes removing the $1500 cap on outpatient physical

therapy/speech therapy?

>

I was at the NASL meeting in Las Vegas last week and it was reported

that

HCFA is considering a $1500 per vendor cap. As strange as it seems,

this might be the interim answer. Also, representative Ensign, the original

sponsor of the proposed legislation is in a tough battle for Senator in

Nevada. This, somehow, seems to be part of the issue on the slow

down of the legislation.

>

Mike Hoon, Yakima, WA

>

>-----

>Free e-mail group hosting at http://www.eGroups.com/

>

>______________________________________________________________________

>

>

[Guest guest]

and All Others Who Replied:

Thanks so much for the information on the legislation. As you learn more,

please update this group, so that we may all spread the word.

I'm trying to keep our P.T. students active in legislative issues and current

health care issues, and the information provided by this group is invaluable!

Thanks Again!

Robbie B. Leonard, M.S., P.T.

Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor

MUSC-P.T. Program Greenville

University Center

P.O. Box 5616

Greenville, SC 29606-5616

It is true that HCFA is considering a per facility cap, but there are legal

> problems with such a decision as the law says that it is a per beneficiary

> cap. We are in contact with HCFA every day and were involved in the

> conference call with HCFA at NASL last week, and not all the information

> that was provided by HCFA staff was correct. Until we see something

> in writing it is hard to determine exactly what will happen next year. It is

> our understanding that even if they implement it as a per facility cap that

> there will need to be a good faith effort on the part of the provider to

> determine whether the patient is over the $1500 cap. We are providing

> an update to the components on Friday as to the status of the cap, but,

> as you indicate, it is only an interim report.

>

> The $1500 repeal legislation is not dead for this year, but there is

> probably only one bill that is moving and there is little chance that

> extraneous items will be included, such as the repeal of the cap. having

> said that, we are making every effort to have the repeal bill included in

> whatever bill maybe be passed. We are also looking at ways to set the

> stage for something to be done early next year. Hope this provides you

> with needed information.

>

>

>

> >>> Mike Hoon 09/21/99 11:29pm >>>

>

> $1500 Cap Legislation

>

>

> >Hi!

> >

> >Can anyone tell me what is happening with - what has happened to the

> legislation that proposes removing the $1500 cap on outpatient physical

> therapy/speech therapy?

> >

> I was at the NASL meeting in Las Vegas last week and it was reported

> that

> HCFA is considering a $1500 per vendor cap. As strange as it seems,

> this might be the interim answer. Also, representative Ensign, the original

> sponsor of the proposed legislation is in a tough battle for Senator in

> Nevada. This, somehow, seems to be part of the issue on the slow

> down of the legislation.

> >

> Mike Hoon, Yakima, WA

> >

> >-----

> >Free e-mail group hosting at http://www.eGroups.com/

> >

> >______________________________________________________________________

> >

> >