I am forwarding this from a message sent to aota's gero-sis list serve. Thought you all might be interested. Sheila
> Read the message below - I just got notice that the > PT's have presented > legislation to amend the Medicare regulations so > that PT's would have direct > access for all outpatient therapy services. I am not > necessarily opposed, > but would want OT included in that language for the > exact reasons they want > direct access. Christine Kroll > > -----Original Message----- > From: Caralyn Davis [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 2:05 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Fw: Medicare Direct Access Legislation > Introduced in Congress > > > FYI > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 11:51 AM > Subject: Medicare Direct Access Legislation > Introduced in Congress > > > > Medicare Direct Access Legislation > Introduced in Congress > > > > ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- A > bill (H.R. 3363) that will > > allow Medicare patients to have direct access to > physical therapists was > > introduced on Capitol Hill yesterday by Rep. Phil > Crane (R-IL) and Rep. > Earl > > Pomeroy (D-ND). > > The American Physical Therapy Association > (APTA) strongly supports > this > > legislation, which will make physical therapist > services more accessible > to > > Medicare beneficiaries. > > "The Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act > (PAPTA) will enable > > Medicare beneficiaries to access services provided > by physical therapists > in > > the quickest, most cost-effective manner > possible," said APTA President > Ben F. > > Massey, Jr., PT. "The current Medicare statute > fails to achieve this goal > for > > seniors and individuals with disabilities who > receive Medicare Part B > > benefits." > > Under the current law, a physician referral is > required to initiate > > physical therapists' intervention under Medicare > Part B, causing delays in > > delivering health care to those who need it. > These delays result in > higher > > costs, decreased functional outcomes, and > frustration to patients. > > "By allowing Medicare recipients to go > directly to a physical > therapist, > > Congress will ensure that patients recover faster > and that Medicare costs > are > > reduced," Massey said. "Our nation's seniors > should no longer be forced > to > > bear the unnecessary burden imposed by regulations > that delay access to > the > > care they need." > > The newly introduced legislation would lift > these burdens by: > > > > * Eliminating Required Physician Referral. > The bill amends Medicare > law > > to eliminate the requirement that a > Medicare beneficiary obtain a > > referral from a physician to receive > outpatient physical therapy > under > > Medicare Part B. It addresses services > provided by a physical > > therapist in the following settings: > private practice, > rehabilitation > > agency, public health clinic, Part B > services in skilled nursing > > facilities, comprehensive outpatient > rehabilitation facilities, > and > > outpatient hospital departments. > > > > * Defining a Qualified Physical Therapist. > The bill amends Medicare > law > > to add a definition for "qualified > physical therapist." No > statutory > > definition currently exists in Medicare > law for a qualified > physical > > therapist. > > > > * Preserving Existing Law for Occupational > Therapy and > Speech-Language > > Pathology Services. The bill makes > technical corrections to the > > current Medicare statute as it relates to > outpatient > rehabilitation > > services. These corrections separate > physical therapy, > occupational > > therapy, and speech therapy services into > three distinct sections. > > However, they do not change the delivery > or scope of occupational > > therapy or speech-language pathology > services in any practice > settings > > under Medicare Part B. With this change, > speech therapy could not > be > > considered a part of physical therapy > under the $1,500 limit on > > therapy services under Medicare. > > > > "APTA strongly supports the ability of > licensed physical therapists to > > evaluate and treat beneficiaries requiring > outpatient physical therapy > > services under Part B of the Medicare program, > without a physician > referral," > > Massey said. "The Association believes that > access for beneficiaries to > > services provided by physical therapists is > critical as Congress looks to > > reform the Medicare program." > > The American Physical Therapy Association is a > national professional > > organization representing more than 65,000 > members. Its goal is to foster > > advancements in physical therapy practice, > education, and research. > > > > MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - > Click Here > > > http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X18466076 > > > > SOURCE American Physical Therapy Association > > -0- 11/29/2001 > > /CONTACT: Eric LeMoult of the American > Physical Therapy Association, > > +1-703-706-3217, or [EMAIL PROTECTED]/ > > /Web site: http://www.apta.org/ > > > > CO: American Physical Therapy Association > > ST: District of Columbia > > IN: HEA > > SU: LEG > > > > > > > > AE-SS > > -- DCTH019 -- > > 0923 11/29/2001 11:30 EST > http://www.prnewswire.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Selector Code: d...h > > > > ==================== > > > > > /---------------------------------------------------------- > The Case Mix Discussion Group is a free service of > the > American Association of Nurse Assessment > Coordinators > "Committed to the Assessment Professional" > Be sure to visit the AANAC website. 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