Protect Physical Therapy From Cuts and Access to Medicare 

National Efforts
HR 1611 The 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 contained a provision, for which APTA successfully advocated, that added physical therapists to the health care professionals who may use locum tenens under Medicare. This allows a physical therapist to bring in another licensed physical therapist to treat Medicare patients and bill Medicare through the practice provider number during temporary absences, due to illness, vacation, etc. The existing law, however, applies only to physical therapists in rural and underserved areas. This limitation prohibits many physical therapists in private practice from taking needed absences without interrupting patient care. If enacted, H.R. 1611 would expand the use of locum tenens nationwide for outpatient PTs.

ACT NOW! APTA continues to fight any and all Medicare cuts and right now, we need your help. Congress must pass legislation that extends the current moratorium on the automatic 2% Medicare sequester cut — also referred to as sequestration — during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. This cut impacts Medicare payments to all providers and facilities, and it currently expires on March 31.  On Friday, the House passed legislation which included extending the moratorium of the 2% Medicare sequester cut. It’s now the Senate’s turn to address this issue.

Visit the APTA Action Center to find tools to share this message, contact your representatives and find other ways to help.

APTA Action Center