Medicare - Direct Access

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, et. al.

Arizona is indeed bringing a motion to 99 APTA HoD to work toward making direct

access a reality in the Medicare program. This will be achieved by seeking for

" physician-status, " a technical classification by HCFA. No one believes this

will be an easy goal to achieve.

It should be noted that this is already one of APTA's goals in the federal

government affairs strategic plan. Our motion brings this to the House of

Delegates for further information, discussion and the House direction that this

indeed be one of the highest priorities of government affairs activities of

APTA. The full text of the motion and the support statement is attached.

Blair J. Packard, PT

packard@...

PROPOSED BY ARIZONA CHAPTER

That Priority in Government Affairs HOD 06-73-30-37 be amended by substitution:

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) shall assign high priority in

its federal government affairs activities to legislation and regulations that

will effectuate direct access or attainment of " physician-status " to physical

therapists in the Medicare program.

SS: Since the early 1980's APTA and its various components have adopted

positions and extended considerable time, effort and financial resources to

bring about direct access practice for the profession of physical therapy. In

thirty-two states such practice is authorized by state law. However, a major

restriction on the public having direct access to the services of physical

therapists is, in many instances, their own insurance company's policy that

still requires physician referral in order to reimburse for physical therapy

services. Such requirements are still part of the federal Medicare program, a

major insurance provider in this country.

Changes in the Medicare program to allow the public direct access to physical

therapy services would have an immediate affect on making direct access to

physical therapy services a reality for a sizeable and growing portion of the US

population. It would make direct access practice more than a limited and

somewhat symbolic status for physical therapists. Such a change would also serve

as a needed catalyst with other insurers and managed care organizations to

recognize the entry-level provider capabilities of physical therapists.

There already are existing APTA House of Delegate positions directly supporting

this activity. They include:

-Federal Information HOD 06-80-16-51

-Position on Priorities in the Health Care System HOD 06-97-07-20 (See

Preamble and Access to Care)

-Principles for Delivering Physical Therapy Within the Health Care System HOD

06-94-16- 28 (See Resolved and Principle 2)

-Position on Physical Therapy for Older Adults HOD 06-95-15-08

-1999 Goals That Represent the Priorities of the Association HOD 06-98-10-04

(See Goal I)

Adoption of this motion will clarify the longstanding goal of the profession to

provide the public direct access to the services of physical therapists and

commit APTA to achievement of this goal.

> ,

>

> APTA is considering a motion to push heavily in a legislative/regulatory

effort

> to achieve physician status in HCFA's eyes. I would love to hear feedback

from

> the group on what that might mean to you all in everyday work life. Original

> motion came from Arizona Chapter and members of this list from AZ might also

> want to comment - Blair Packard or others??

>

> R. Kovacek, MSA, PT

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