The first, and most pressing issue at hand is that CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) proposes to implement a multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) policy that would result in significant reductions in payment for outpatient therapy services. Specifically, CMS proposes to make full payment for the first 15 minutes of therapy service, then reduce a portion of payment each of the next 15 minutes of therapy service by 50%. The American Physical Therapy Association estimates that this reduction in reimbursement alone will result in a 12-13% reduction in reimbursement to the physical therapy service provider. Coupled with a scheduled 23% reduction in reimbursement in December 2010, physical therapy offices are being asked to take a 33% total cut in payment from Medicare. As discussed here, this is an unreasonable cut for the physical therapy provider withstand, and will only diminish the quality of care available to the Medicare beneficiary in the future.
CMS is only accepting letters regarding MPPR until August 24, 2010, so time is of the essence! Action is needed now, not later. We have approximately 2 weeks to make ourselves heard. For your convenience, sample letters have been provided at the links below to upload/attach onto the regulations.gov website (the content of the letter is too long to fit in the comment field provided).
Sample Letter for Concerned Citizens
Sample Letter for Physical Therapists
Time is short. Act now. Click here to be directed to Regulations.gov and let your voice be heard.
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