Arbitrary limits on rehabilitation thera

On February 7, 2003, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a program memorandum that instructed its carriers and fiscal intermediaries to implement caps on Medicare's reimbursement for outpatient therapy services. The 2003 caps will amount to a $1590 limit on the reimbursement of occupational therapy, and a $1590 limit on the reimbursement of combined physical and speech therapy services provided on or after July 1, 2003.

Therapy caps resulted when Congress passed the "Balanced Budget Act of 1997." While the caps were partially implemented in 1999, they have twice been placed under a moratorium. The most recent moratorium expired on December 31, 2002.

Unless Congress acts, seniors will again face arbitrary limits on their rehabilitation therapy care. On July 1, 2003, the Medicare outpatient beneficiary caps on rehabilitation therapy will take effect. These $1,590 beneficiary caps on (1) occupational therapy and (2) physical and speech-language therapy care combined will negatively impact care for stroke victims. The caps were partially implemented in 1999, but Congress has since twice placed such implementation under a moratorium until the end of 2002. Please cut and paste the link below into your browser and tell your representatives it is time to repeal these beneficiary caps once and for all! Forward this message to all who will help and voice their concerns. Act now before it is too late.

http://capwiz.com/bia/issues/alert/?alertid=1862081&type=CO