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Therapy Caps Can Be a Thing of the Past With Your Help

Seniors and persons with disabilities will will no longer have to worry about restricted access to physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services with the introduction of the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009.

The act repeals the current financial limits on Medicare beneficiaries rehabilitation services. Introduced on the first day of the 111th Congress, the Act has been long coming considering the extensive history of therapy caps.

Therapy caps, arbitrary limits placed on rehabilitation services covered by Medicare in all outpatient rehabilitation settings except hospital outpatient departments, were originally adopted by Congress in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Since 1997, Congress has prevented the implementation of the caps through authorizing an exceptions process for rehabilitation services above the financial limitation based on clinician evaluation and judgment and diagnosis, as well as passing several moratoria.

The 18-month extension of the exceptions process was included in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, and is set to expire on December 31, 2009.

Currently there are two therapy caps, one for physical therapy and speech language pathology and one for occupational therapy. These therapy caps are set at $1840 per beneficiary per year, and apply to all Medicare beneficiaries in all Part B health care settings and exclude hospital outpatient departments.

"Therapy is necessary to effectively manage and confront many age-related diseases, such as stroke, Parkinson`s, and congenital heart failure," said Senator John Ensign, who helped bring about the bill. "Every year in the Senate we debate this issue of therapy caps, and this year needs to be the last.

Supporters and patients alike, make sure to express you support for this act by going online to http://amerpta.capwiz.com/amerpta/home/ to contact your legislators. Your efforts will help support the battle against these arbitrary caps.