NationwideLetter To Senator Casey Regarding Removal of Medicare Physical Therapy Cap
The Honorable Robert P. Casey, Jr.
555 Walnut Street, First Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Dear Senator Casey:
As a concerned constituent, I am writing to ask you to cosponsor the
Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act (S. 450). The bill
would repeal financial limits, or "therapy caps," on Medicare
outpatient physical therapy, occupation therapy and speech-language
pathology services. The therapy caps limit outpatient rehabilitation
coverage to $1,810 for combined physical therapy and speech-language
pathology services and $1,810 for occupational therapy in 2008.
Congress has recognized the potential harm in this policy and
repeatedly has passed moratoriums on its enforcement. In 2007,
Congress passed legislation providing exceptions for beneficiaries who
need care above the financial limit - but only through June 30, 2008.
Now is the time to provide a long-term solution to the flawed therapy
cap policy. I urge you to take action to pass legislation to remove
the therapy caps once and for all and prevent harm to Medicare
beneficiaries who need rehabilitation services.
As you may know, there are inherent problems with the therapy cap:
• The arbitrary caps have a disproportionate impact on those Medicare
beneficiaries who need therapy care the most. Beneficiaries who have
had a stroke or have Parkinson's disease, amputations, spinal cord
injuries, or osteoporosis are most likely to need such care.
• Although beneficiaries can apply for exceptions to the therapy cap,
it is a short-term solution that leaves doubts whether rehabilitation
services under Medicare will be covered when the exceptions process
expires. A long-term solution, not a temporary fix, is needed to
prevent beneficiaries from being forced to forgo care or face paying
100 percent of the cost of additional treatment out-of-pocket when our
coverage expires.
I strongly urge you to cosponsor S. 450 and actively work for its
adoption as soon as possible this year.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
555 Walnut Street, First Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Dear Senator Casey:
As a concerned constituent, I am writing to ask you to cosponsor the
Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act (S. 450). The bill
would repeal financial limits, or "therapy caps," on Medicare
outpatient physical therapy, occupation therapy and speech-language
pathology services. The therapy caps limit outpatient rehabilitation
coverage to $1,810 for combined physical therapy and speech-language
pathology services and $1,810 for occupational therapy in 2008.
Congress has recognized the potential harm in this policy and
repeatedly has passed moratoriums on its enforcement. In 2007,
Congress passed legislation providing exceptions for beneficiaries who
need care above the financial limit - but only through June 30, 2008.
Now is the time to provide a long-term solution to the flawed therapy
cap policy. I urge you to take action to pass legislation to remove
the therapy caps once and for all and prevent harm to Medicare
beneficiaries who need rehabilitation services.
As you may know, there are inherent problems with the therapy cap:
• The arbitrary caps have a disproportionate impact on those Medicare
beneficiaries who need therapy care the most. Beneficiaries who have
had a stroke or have Parkinson's disease, amputations, spinal cord
injuries, or osteoporosis are most likely to need such care.
• Although beneficiaries can apply for exceptions to the therapy cap,
it is a short-term solution that leaves doubts whether rehabilitation
services under Medicare will be covered when the exceptions process
expires. A long-term solution, not a temporary fix, is needed to
prevent beneficiaries from being forced to forgo care or face paying
100 percent of the cost of additional treatment out-of-pocket when our
coverage expires.
I strongly urge you to cosponsor S. 450 and actively work for its
adoption as soon as possible this year.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Recycled Electrons
