[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 162 (Wednesday, November 28, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       MEDICARE PATIENT ACCESS TO PHYSICAL THERAPISTS ACT OF 2001

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                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 28, 2001

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today with my friend and 
colleague, Mr. Pomeroy, to introduce the Patient Access to Physical 
Therapists Act. This bill allows Medicare beneficiaries direct access 
to qualified physical therapists without a physician referral.
  Currently, Medicare beneficiaries must visit a physician before being 
allowed to then visit a physical therapist. This burdensome requirement 
in Medicare is a regulation whose time has passed. The referral mandate 
is unnecessary and limits access to timely and medically necessary 
physical therapists' services. Providing Medicare beneficiaries with 
direct access to physical therapists is critical as Congress looks to 
modernize the Medicare program.
  All health care consumers should have the ability to choose the 
health care services they want when they need it. Allowing Medicare 
beneficiaries to have direct access to physical therapists will help 
achieve that goal. Currently, thirty-four states, including my home 
state of Illinois, allow for direct access to physical therapists 
without the added cost of a physician referral. Congress must 
consistently balance three factors with regard to Medicare: patient 
safety, accessibility of services from qualified providers, and cost or 
financial stability to the Medicare program.
  Direct access to physical therapists allows for improved access to 
quality health care services. A study of BlueCross BlueShield insurance 
claims in Maryland indicates that when a patient has direct access to 
physical therapists, services are not over-utilized nor do they result 
in higher costs for physical therapy. State boards that regulate 
physical therapy confirm that patient safety is not compromised by the 
elimination of the referral requirement. With this in mind, the policy 
of improved access to physical therapists is healthy for the Medicare 
program and its beneficiaries. It is clear that improved access to 
physical therapists will maintain this critical balance of patient 
safety, cost to Medicare program, and improved beneficiary service. 
Medicare beneficiaries should have the same access to physical 
therapists as the rest of patients in Illinois and thirty-four other 
states.
  Providing better access to qualified physical therapists will help 
ensure patients receive quality health care for all Americans. Mr. 
Speaker, I ask for my colleagues for their consideration and support of 
the Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act.

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