[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 126 (Monday, September 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S7200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE: IMPACT ON THERAPY SERVICES
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, for the past 6 months I have come to the
floor of the U.S. Senate to offer my doctor's ``second opinion'' about
the health reform law. Day after day, week after week, we continue to
see disturbing news reports uncovering the law's consequences--
consequences that restrict individual freedoms, erode patient access to
medical care, and increase our Nation's debt and deficit.
Specifically, I have listened closely as President Obama and
congressional Democrats repeatedly try to convince the American people
that the health care law does not cut Medicare. Having practiced
medicine for well over two decades, I can tell you that the Nation's
Medicare patients and Medicare providers are not fooled. They know the
Democrat's health care law cuts over $500 billion from the Medicare
Program. They know the law does not use that money to make sure
Medicare is strong and solvent for generations to come. They know the
law raids Medicare and uses the money to start a brand new entitlement
program for the nonelderly.
America's seniors, and the medical professionals who treat them,
understand that if we take over $500 billion away from Medicare then
patients will lose benefits. They understand that if we take over $500
billion away from Medicare, then the quality of care will go down. They
understand it will be increasingly difficult to see a doctor--
especially in rural and frontier States like Wyoming. And they
understand the local community hospitals, home health agencies, nursing
homes, and skilled nursing facilities will struggle to keep their doors
open.
Over the August work period, I traveled all across the State of
Wyoming--talking to folks at town meetings, parades, picnics, fairs,
and rodeos. Everyone agrees Medicare is going broke--and that the new
health care law does nothing to fix the problem. In fact, it only
serves to make a bad situation worse.
I want to share with the Senate a guest editorial printed in the
Casper Journal. Written by Kathy Blair, a board certified orthopedic
physical therapist, the article explains how proposed Medicare
reimbursement cuts to physical and occupational therapists will limit
patient access to medical care.
On Friday, June 25, 2010, the Obama administration released its
proposed 2011 Physician Fee Schedule rule and regulation. The draft
rule sets Medicare payments for individual physician services. As
Kathy's editorial explains, the new health care law requires the
Administration to institute a so-called Multiple Procedure Payment
Reduction--MPPR. Originally designed to impact payment for multiple
surgeries performed simultaneously, the administration now plans to
apply the MPPR policy to physical and occupational therapy services.
This move is expected to cut Medicare physical and occupational therapy
payments next year by 12 percent.
I thank Kathy Blair for bringing this important matter to the
Senate's attention and ask unanimous consent to have her editorial
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From the Casper Journal, Aug. 18-24, 2010]
Proposed Medicare Policy May Reduce Physical Therapy Services
(By Dr. Kathy Blair)
On June 25, 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that updates 2011
payment rates for physician services, outpatient physical
therapy services and other services. In the rule, CMS
proposes to implement a multiple procedure payment reduction
(MPPR) policy that would result in significant reductions in
payment for outpatient therapy services, regardless of the
setting in which the services are delivered. It will apply to
physician offices, outpatient private practice settings and
outpatient services in hospitals, as well as some home health
and skilled nursing services (Part B).
Estimates indicate that these changes will result in a 12-
to 13-percent decrease in payment for outpatient physical
therapy services in 2011. These cuts, along with the
sustainable growth rate (SCR) cuts and therapy cap, would
combine to reduce reimbursement by as much as 35 percent in
2011.
Physical therapists may have to elect not to see Medicare
beneficiaries or close their doors as a result of such
significant reductions in reimbursement. It will clearly have
an impact on the ability of Medicare beneficiaries to gain
access to needed therapy services.
Access to necessary therapy services has the potential to
decrease costs associated with the management of conditions
typically seen by physical therapists under the Medicare
program. Therapy services are important to keep Medicare
beneficiaries healthy and functioning in their homes or the
facilities in which they reside.
Additionally, individuals considering a career in physical
therapy may reconsider their choice. The inability to serve
the rehabilitation needs of seniors and individuals with
disabilities due to unsustainable payment cuts would limit
access today and has the potential to worsen health care
workforce issues in the future.
CMS needs to hear from you to understand the implications
the MPPR policy will have on physical therapy practices and
the healthcare of all Medicare recipients. Comments must be
received by an Aug. 24 deadline and can be submitted
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home
.&fnl;html #submitComment?R=0900006480b182c9.
For contact information about mailing letters to comment,
call Wind City Physical Therapy at 235-3910. Please allow
adequate time for letter delivery before the comment period
ends.
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