Originally posted on:2013-12-31
The Medicare therapy cap exceptions process expires on December 31, 2013. Without Congressional action, patients could be faced with a hard cap on outpatient therapy services in 2014. APTA and the Therapy Cap Coalition, a group of almost 50 associations, organizations, patient and consumer groups, are working together to prevent a hard cap, but we need your help.
Congress has been working on legislation to permanently reform the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, putting an end to the practice of unstable yearly extensions.
Contact your members of Congress TODAY and ask them to include a full repeal of the Medicare Therapy Cap in the SGR Reform legislation.
MESSAGE:
Repeal the Medicare therapy cap in the upcoming SGR reform legislation.
The flawed SGR formula and the therapy cap were created together in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Since 1997, Congress has repeatedly addressed the SGR formula and the therapy cap together through annual extensions in the SGR/Medicare extenders package. If Congress passes legislation addressing the SGR formula, but does not include a repeal of the Medicare therapy cap, it is very likely that patients could face a hard cap on outpatient therapy services in 2014.
If the SGR reform package is not passed by December 31st, ask your legislators to extend the therapy cap exceptions process for a minimum of one year.
Remind your legislators that a hard cap disproportionally impacts Medicare beneficiaries who need therapy services the most, for example patients with Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis and patients who have suffered a stroke, brain injury, or joint fracture, may be forced to ration treatment or forgo care altogether.
Finally, ask your legislators to show their support for repealing the therapy cap and protecting patient access to rehabilitation by cosponsoring the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act (H.R. 713/S.367).
Email your legislators and help preserve access to outpatient therapy services! It is vital that patients and providers work together to prevent a hard cap from being implemented in 2014.
