Alpha Lillstrom Cheng

Ask Your Representative to Cosponsor H.R.5536 to Protect payment for PTAs

 

Background:

Unless Congress intervenes, the Medicare 15% payment differential for services furnished in whole or in part by physical therapist assistants (PTA) and occupational therapy assistants (OTA) will go into effect on January 1, 2022.

Advocacy Opportunity:

Ask your Representative to cosponsor the Stabilizing Medicare Access to Rehabilitation and Therapy (SMART) Act (H.R.5536) which seeks to mitigate the impact of the impending Medicare 15% payment differential for services furnished by PTAs and OTAs. We need your help making sure your legislator understands that you need their help in order to keep your doors open, see patients, and remain a viable business and employer in your community.

If you are on social media, tweet or create a Facebook post tagging your legislator and #PPSAdvocacy. TEMPLATE TWEET: “Intervene to prevent PTA/OTA payment differential; Medicare reimbursement IS my bottom line. [@Representative Twitter handle] #PPSAdvocacy”

 

New to engaging with your lawmaker or need a refresher? Check out these tips for advocacy.For information on PPS’s legislative priorities and activities, visit the Advocacy section at www.ppsapta.org

Thank you. Your voice makes an impact. Together we can make a difference.

 

TEMPLATE EMAIL:

Subject line: PTAs enable my practice to meet the physical therapy needs of my community. Prevent Medicare cuts so I can stay in business.

 

Dear Representative ____________,

I am your constituent, a physical therapist in private practice, and a member of the Private Practice Section (PPS) of the American Physical Therapy Association. On behalf of myself and PPS, I’m asking you to cosponsor the Stabilizing Medicare Access to Rehabilitation and Therapy (SMART) Act(H.R.5536) in order to mitigate the 15% payment differential for care provide by PTAs that is slated to take effect on January 1, 2022. Given the current instability in the health care system, now is not the time to reduce payment to Medicare providers which will hinder patient access to care—especially in rural and underserved areas.

H.R.5536 would support small businesses like mine and protect Medicare beneficiary access to physical therapy by providing a one-year delay in the implementation of the PTA differential while exempting those PTAs working in rural, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) from the 15% therapy assistant differential.

The bill also seeks to allow for general supervision of PTAs by physical therapists in outpatient settings (where allowed by state law) under Medicare Part B. This change would make it so that PTA supervision in Part B settings would be the same as all other settings.

As your constituent and a small business owner in your district, I ask you to please cosponsor the Stabilizing Medicare Access to Rehabilitation and Therapy (SMART) Act (H.R.5536). This bipartisan bill has been endorsed by 17 provider and patient groups. I am grateful for your previous efforts to prevent Medicare cuts. Please act to help me keep my clinic doors open—to not only serve our patients but also to provide jobs in our town.

Thank you,

[Name, credentials]

Member, Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association

[Practice Name]

[Practice Address]

[Practice phone number]