Good Bye $1500 Cap - Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hunt

703/706-3216

APTA APPLAUDS CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO LIFT $1,500 THERAPY CAP

ALEXANDRIA, VA, November 9, 1999 - House and Senate negotiators agreed today

to lift the $1,500 cap on physical therapy and other rehabilitation services

under Medicare.

" This crucial step that Congress took today will mean that Medicare patients

will be able to take their own steps toward full recovery, " said American

Physical Therapy Association (APTA) President Jan K. , PT, PhD,

OCS. " This arbitrary limit has been detrimental to Medicare beneficiaries

who need adequate physical therapy services to return to functional living.

APTA applauds Congress for taking this action to undo the unintended

consequences of the Balanced Budget Act. "

APTA is disappointed, however, that the lifting of the cap will not be

immediate because it is tied to a provision that requires implementation of

consolidated billing by nursing homes. According to HCFA, consolidated

billing cannot be accomplished until Y2K problems have been resolved.

" As long as the arbitrary cap remains in place, Medicare beneficiaries are

being harmed, " said . APTA urges the Health Care Financing

Administration to implement the moratorium on the $1,500 cap as soon as

possible.

The American Physical Therapy Association is a national professional

organization representing more than 70,000 members. Its goal is to foster

advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education.

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Hunt

American Physical Therapy Association

1111 North Fairfax Street

andria, VA 22314

800/999-2782, ext 3216

jenniferhunt@...

www.apta.org

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R. Kovacek, MSA, PT

Email Pkovacek@...

313 884-8920

Visit <www.PTManager.com>

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