February 14, 2012
The legislation signed into law on December 23, 2011 that includes a two-month delay in the Medicare physician payment cut also includes a provision that extends the Medicare outpatient therapy caps exceptions process to the $1,880 therapy cap until February 29, 2012. When Congress reconvenes in January, the Academy will focus on continued support for the exceptions’ process as well as work to prevent cuts to physician payments that will be effective March 1, 2012.
In December, more than 300 Academy members sent emails or called their members of Congress requesting that the exceptions process be extended. Your continued support makes it possible for the Academy to lead successful grassroots campaigns like this—that bring about change and enhance the practice environment for physiatrists and patients! We thank you for your activism and interest in this important issue.
Academy Actions
On January 12th, the Academy met with the Therapy Cap Coalition in Washington, DC to discuss strategies over the expiring (February 29, 2012) outpatient therapy cap exceptions process. The Therapy Cap Coalition is a national group of stakeholders including the American Physical Therapy Association, the American Occupational Therapy Association and the American Speech-Language Pathology Association that advocates for the elimination of arbitrary limits on coverage of therapy services. The coalition sent a letter to the House and Senate conferees urging them to include an extension to the exceptions process in their final agreement. Academy staff will participate in upcoming Capitol Hill meetings targeted at Conference Committee members and House and Senate leadership.
To read the letter, 
click here.
Please continue to log on to our Web site at www.aapmr.org for updates and information regarding key grassroots' activities.