Heather, Yes, this was the policy until there was a rule change a while back. NATA filed a lawsuit and lost...now they are trying to change the law. I think that for many years docs employed Ats (aka "physician extenders") in their offices to provide "therapy" services. Once the rule became effective a number of ATs (and other providers) could not longer provide services "incident-to." Legislation was introduced in Congress last year as Joe noted. We are lobbying now in an effort to prevent the bill from being reintroduced. If NATA wants Medicare to cover athletic training, then perhaps they should ask Congress to create a new Medicare benefit...rather than providing OT/PT/SLP under a doc at a discount.
Chuck -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bleier, Heather N Ctr 65 MDOS/EDIS Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 2:26 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [OTlist] Medicare Wow, shocking... I think it is very detrimental to the well being of patients to allow non-OT/SLP/PTs to provide therapy services "per incident"; even under the supervision of a physician. I am shocked that it is even being considered. Therapists are specialists and have very specific skills to facilitate their patients. To send a patient to a non-therapist is not in the best interest of the patient. I hope everyone on this list-serve goes on AOTA and sends an email to their states reps. Thanks for bringing this issue up; if I had not read it here, I would never have known about it. Heather -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************ ************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn ************************************************************************ ************** -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************************
