Re: Therapy Caps and Congress adjournment

[Guest guest]

It is my understanding that there was language placed to allow for medicare

beneficiary to appeal cap - but no other repeal or reprieve from the cap

implementation was made, including nothing done to separate PT from ST.

Laurie B , OTR/L, MSHS

Director - Beaufort Memorial Hospital

955 Ribaut Road Beaufort SC 29906

fax (843)522-5923

lmartin@...

Therapy Caps and Congress adjournment

Hello all,

If I understand correctly, Congress has adjourned for their Christmas break.

If this is correct, the therapy caps will be in place starting January 1

since Congress had to take action to repeal the caps (and no action was taken).

Further, as I understand, Congress will not be back in session until January

31, 2006. This means that there will not be a chance to repeal the caps until

at least after Jan 31.

Is this correct--and did Congress begin their Christmas break yet?

Thank you,

Latz, PT

Forence, KY

[Guest guest]

It is my understanding that there was language placed to allow for medicare

beneficiary to appeal cap - but no other repeal or reprieve from the cap

implementation was made, including nothing done to separate PT from ST.

Laurie B , OTR/L, MSHS

Director - Beaufort Memorial Hospital

955 Ribaut Road Beaufort SC 29906

fax (843)522-5923

lmartin@...

Therapy Caps and Congress adjournment

Hello all,

If I understand correctly, Congress has adjourned for their Christmas break.

If this is correct, the therapy caps will be in place starting January 1

since Congress had to take action to repeal the caps (and no action was taken).

Further, as I understand, Congress will not be back in session until January

31, 2006. This means that there will not be a chance to repeal the caps until

at least after Jan 31.

Is this correct--and did Congress begin their Christmas break yet?

Thank you,

Latz, PT

Forence, KY

[Guest guest]

From the APTA:

Breaking News - Budget Deal Includes Modified Therapy

Cap

APTA Disappointed with Implementation of Therapy Cap;

Concerned that New Policy will Limit Rehabilitation

Services

December 19, 2005 – Congressional negotiators reached

an agreement late Sunday evening on the Deficit

Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act (S. 1932) that

will allow a modified version of the Medicare therapy

cap to go into effect January 1, 2006. The US House of

Representatives passed the agreement by 212-206 vote

early Monday morning and the US Senate is expected to

take action on the measure as early as this morning.

The agreement modifies the Medicare law to allow

patients to apply for additional therapy services if

their treatment is expected to exceed the cap.

APTA is extremely disappointed that therapy caps will

go into effect and concerned about the new exceptions

process outlined in the legislation and its potential

burden on Medicare beneficiaries. Although this

process appears to be intended to make the caps less

arbitrary, the uncertainty in how the Secretary will

implement a process that allows individuals to obtain

an exception to the uniform dollar limit is a

significant concern. A process that picks which

patients qualify for additional benefits could be as

arbitrary and discriminatory to beneficiaries as the

cap itself.

The policy also did not address a long-standing

problem - a shared $1740 cap between physical therapy

and speech language pathology services. Physical

therapy and speech language pathology are distinct and

separate professional services and implementation of

the therapy caps without separating the two services

is confusing to beneficiaries and will limit access.

Despite the efforts of more than a majority of the US

House of Representatives, 40 US Senators, and more

than 40 patients and health care professional groups

to ensure access to rehabilitation by eliminating the

therapy caps, the conference agreement falls short of

that objective.

P. Matlack

P. Matlack

Associate Director of Grassroots & Political Affairs

American Physical Therapy Association

1111 North Fairfax Street

andria, VA 22314-1488

703/706-3163; fax 703/838-8919

michaelmatlack@...

Rick Gawenda, PT

Director PM & R

Detroit Receiving Hospital

--- ptmanbob@... wrote:

> Hello all,

> If I understand correctly, Congress has adjourned

> for their Christmas break.

> If this is correct, the therapy caps will be in

> place starting January 1

> since Congress had to take action to repeal the caps

> (and no action was taken).

> Further, as I understand, Congress will not be back

> in session until January

> 31, 2006. This means that there will not be a

> chance to repeal the caps until

> at least after Jan 31.

> Is this correct--and did Congress begin their

> Christmas break yet?

> Thank you,

> Latz, PT

> Forence, KY

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

>

>

>

> Looking to start and own 100% of your own Practice?

>

> Visit www.InHomeRehab.com.

> PTManager encourages participation in your

> professional association. Join and participate now!

>

> Please identify yourself in all postings to

> PTManager.

>

[Guest guest]

From the APTA:

Breaking News - Budget Deal Includes Modified Therapy

Cap

APTA Disappointed with Implementation of Therapy Cap;

Concerned that New Policy will Limit Rehabilitation

Services

December 19, 2005 – Congressional negotiators reached

an agreement late Sunday evening on the Deficit

Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act (S. 1932) that

will allow a modified version of the Medicare therapy

cap to go into effect January 1, 2006. The US House of

Representatives passed the agreement by 212-206 vote

early Monday morning and the US Senate is expected to

take action on the measure as early as this morning.

The agreement modifies the Medicare law to allow

patients to apply for additional therapy services if

their treatment is expected to exceed the cap.

APTA is extremely disappointed that therapy caps will

go into effect and concerned about the new exceptions

process outlined in the legislation and its potential

burden on Medicare beneficiaries. Although this

process appears to be intended to make the caps less

arbitrary, the uncertainty in how the Secretary will

implement a process that allows individuals to obtain

an exception to the uniform dollar limit is a

significant concern. A process that picks which

patients qualify for additional benefits could be as

arbitrary and discriminatory to beneficiaries as the

cap itself.

The policy also did not address a long-standing

problem - a shared $1740 cap between physical therapy

and speech language pathology services. Physical

therapy and speech language pathology are distinct and

separate professional services and implementation of

the therapy caps without separating the two services

is confusing to beneficiaries and will limit access.

Despite the efforts of more than a majority of the US

House of Representatives, 40 US Senators, and more

than 40 patients and health care professional groups

to ensure access to rehabilitation by eliminating the

therapy caps, the conference agreement falls short of

that objective.

P. Matlack

P. Matlack

Associate Director of Grassroots & Political Affairs

American Physical Therapy Association

1111 North Fairfax Street

andria, VA 22314-1488

703/706-3163; fax 703/838-8919

michaelmatlack@...

Rick Gawenda, PT

Director PM & R

Detroit Receiving Hospital

--- ptmanbob@... wrote:

> Hello all,

> If I understand correctly, Congress has adjourned

> for their Christmas break.

> If this is correct, the therapy caps will be in

> place starting January 1

> since Congress had to take action to repeal the caps

> (and no action was taken).

> Further, as I understand, Congress will not be back

> in session until January

> 31, 2006. This means that there will not be a

> chance to repeal the caps until

> at least after Jan 31.

> Is this correct--and did Congress begin their

> Christmas break yet?

> Thank you,

> Latz, PT

> Forence, KY

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

>

>

>

> Looking to start and own 100% of your own Practice?

>

> Visit www.InHomeRehab.com.

> PTManager encourages participation in your

> professional association. Join and participate now!

>

> Please identify yourself in all postings to

> PTManager.

>

[Guest guest]

From the APTA:

Breaking News - Budget Deal Includes Modified Therapy

Cap

APTA Disappointed with Implementation of Therapy Cap;

Concerned that New Policy will Limit Rehabilitation

Services

December 19, 2005 – Congressional negotiators reached

an agreement late Sunday evening on the Deficit

Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act (S. 1932) that

will allow a modified version of the Medicare therapy

cap to go into effect January 1, 2006. The US House of

Representatives passed the agreement by 212-206 vote

early Monday morning and the US Senate is expected to

take action on the measure as early as this morning.

The agreement modifies the Medicare law to allow

patients to apply for additional therapy services if

their treatment is expected to exceed the cap.

APTA is extremely disappointed that therapy caps will

go into effect and concerned about the new exceptions

process outlined in the legislation and its potential

burden on Medicare beneficiaries. Although this

process appears to be intended to make the caps less

arbitrary, the uncertainty in how the Secretary will

implement a process that allows individuals to obtain

an exception to the uniform dollar limit is a

significant concern. A process that picks which

patients qualify for additional benefits could be as

arbitrary and discriminatory to beneficiaries as the

cap itself.

The policy also did not address a long-standing

problem - a shared $1740 cap between physical therapy

and speech language pathology services. Physical

therapy and speech language pathology are distinct and

separate professional services and implementation of

the therapy caps without separating the two services

is confusing to beneficiaries and will limit access.

Despite the efforts of more than a majority of the US

House of Representatives, 40 US Senators, and more

than 40 patients and health care professional groups

to ensure access to rehabilitation by eliminating the

therapy caps, the conference agreement falls short of

that objective.

P. Matlack

P. Matlack

Associate Director of Grassroots & Political Affairs

American Physical Therapy Association

1111 North Fairfax Street

andria, VA 22314-1488

703/706-3163; fax 703/838-8919

michaelmatlack@...

Rick Gawenda, PT

Director PM & R

Detroit Receiving Hospital

--- ptmanbob@... wrote:

> Hello all,

> If I understand correctly, Congress has adjourned

> for their Christmas break.

> If this is correct, the therapy caps will be in

> place starting January 1

> since Congress had to take action to repeal the caps

> (and no action was taken).

> Further, as I understand, Congress will not be back

> in session until January

> 31, 2006. This means that there will not be a

> chance to repeal the caps until

> at least after Jan 31.

> Is this correct--and did Congress begin their

> Christmas break yet?

> Thank you,

> Latz, PT

> Forence, KY

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

>

>

>

> Looking to start and own 100% of your own Practice?

>

> Visit www.InHomeRehab.com.

> PTManager encourages participation in your

> professional association. Join and participate now!

>

> Please identify yourself in all postings to

> PTManager.

>

[Guest guest]

It is my understanding that the House passed the Deficit Reduction Act

of 2005 (S. 1932) early this morning which included a proposal to

address the cap for one year. I have not yet seen the details about

what the provision does...our federal affairs staff is working on a

update for the AOTA website. The bill is expected to reach the Senate

floor today.

>>> ptmanbob@... 12/19/05 9:30 AM >>>

Hello all,

If I understand correctly, Congress has adjourned for their Christmas

break.

If this is correct, the therapy caps will be in place starting January 1

since Congress had to take action to repeal the caps (and no action was

taken).

Further, as I understand, Congress will not be back in session until

January

31, 2006. This means that there will not be a chance to repeal the caps

until

at least after Jan 31.

Is this correct--and did Congress begin their Christmas break yet?

Thank you,

Latz, PT

Forence, KY