Originally posted on: 2013-01-03
Unfortunately the New Year did not bring answers to many of the serious and looming questions that face our profession regarding payment and Medicare benefits.
Early this morning, the US Senate passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. The legislation included three Medicare provisions important to the profession:
Aversion of the scheduled 26.5% Medicare fee schedule cut
One year extension of the therapy cap exceptions process
One year extension of the work geographic adjustment
While these are positive developments, the Senate also acted to include an increase in the multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) policy that applies to the practice expense portion of therapy codes. Currently set at 20% in private practice and 25% in facilities, the legislation includes an offset provision that raises the MPPR policy to 50% across settings.
The House of Representatives has not yet voted on this legislation. Please call or email your House member today and ask that this provision be removed from the final legislation.
Go to APTA’s Legislative Action Center and find your legislator: https://app3.vocusgr.com/WebPublish/controller.aspx?SiteName=APTA&Definition=Home&SV_Section=Home
Secondly, we’ve posted a letter from Paul Rockar, APTA’s President on the ALAPTA website which you can access HERE. The letter summarizes the issues that must be addressed very soon.
Ellen R. Strunk, PT, MS, GCS, CEEAA
ALAPTA President
Ellen@rehabresourcesandconsulting.com
http://www.rehabresourcesandconsulting.com
Phone: 205.527.2338
Fax: 205.682.9872
