While the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) considers what to do with a proposed rule that APTA says creates “perverse financial incentives” for reductions in care in home health (HH), APTA and its members can be satisfied that the association, its components, and individual members mounted a strong, multifaceted education and advocacy effort that is likely to … Read full post
Payment
What’s the Latest at CMS? Your Guide to Recent Proposed and Final CMS Rules
The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) spent its spring and summer issuing proposed and final rules on areas ranging from the Medicare physician fee schedule, to what skilled nursing facilities will be paid and what they’ll have to report, to inpatient reimbursement and home health episodes of care.
Here’s a quick guide to where some of these … Read full post
Payment Cuts Avoided in Proposed 2018 Physician Fee Schedule
The proposed 2018 Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS) released today by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) includes some positive news for physical therapists (PTs)—a proposal to maintain the values of some current procedural terminology (CPT) codes commonly used by PTs, and even increase values for a few.
The proposed rule is a win for the profession … Read full post
CMS Proposes 2018 Quality Payment Program Rule: Here’s What PTs Need to Know
CMS Proposes 2018 Quality Payment Program Rule: Here’s What PTs Need to Know
The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) may have slowed down the pace at which it is implementing the move toward quality-based payment, but that doesn’t mean physical therapists (PTs) should be taking a business-as-usual attitude.
With the release of its 2018 proposed rule for … Read full post
APTA’s Insider Intel: Live Webinar Series on Payment & Regulatory Issues
APTA’s Insider Intel: Live Webinar Series on Payment & Regulatory Issues
APTA’s “Insider Intel” calls give PTs, PTAs, and administrative staff the chance to learn about the latest and most pressing payment and regulatory issues, as well as pose questions to staff experts.
Upcoming Calls
Participation is free and limited to APTA members on a first-come, first-served basis up to … Read full post
Welcome Back: Therapy Cap Repeal Is Reintroduced in Congress
After falling short by the narrowest of margins in 2015, an APTA-supported bill to end the Medicare therapy cap has been reintroduced in both houses of Congress. And now it’s time for the physical therapy community to make its voice heard.
The bill, named the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act (HR 807, S 253) would repeal the therapy cap … Read full post
Quick Guide and Call-In Q&A Are Latest New Resources to Prepare for Payment in 2017
A new guide to using the 3 new tiered evaluation codes that come into play January 1, 2017, gives APTA members a quick graphical explanation of the criteria for determining when an evaluation is considered “low,” “moderate,” or “high” complexity. Developed by APTA, the guide is available as a 2-page printable PDF download and, as a bonus, is being included … Read full post
DPTA encourages you to get involved with the #ChoosePT initiative
Over the past 15 years, increasing numbers of Americans have been prescribed opioids for pain management. Sales of prescription opioids have quadrupled since 1999. So have deaths related to prescription opioids. So have heroin-related deaths.
APTA’s #ChoosePT campaign raises awareness about the dangers of prescription opioids and encourages consumers and prescribers to choose safer alternatives like physical therapy, consistent with … Read full post