[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 55 (Thursday, April 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E717-E718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE MEDICARE ACCESS TO REHABILITATION ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2011

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan 
Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Act of 2011 which Representative 
James Gerlach and I are introducing today. This important bill repeals 
the monetary caps that limit beneficiary access to medically necessary 
outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language 
pathology services. Senators Ben Cardin and Susan Collins are 
introducing this legislation in the Senate.
  To remove all uncertainty for Medicare beneficiaries about being able 
to receive the appropriate therapy, the bipartisan Medicare Access to 
Rehabilitation Act of 2011 creates a stable payment environment so that 
health professionals can focus on providing quality health care. 
Rehabilitation services provided by physical therapists, occupational 
therapists, and speech-language pathologists are essential to assisting 
individuals reach their highest functional level possible and the 
monetary caps are inconsistent with this objective.
  A March 2008 Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, study 
provided evidence that enforcement of the monetary caps could cause 
Medicare beneficiaries harm since it may require them to delay 
necessary medical care, force others to assume higher out-of-pocket 
costs, and disrupt the continuum of care for many seniors and 
individuals with disabilities. Specifically, the study demonstrated 
that the sickest patients who suffered from Parkinson's disease or who 
have multiple medical problems were most likely to exceed the monetary 
caps.
  Since inclusion of the caps in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, both 
Democratic and Republican Congresses and Administrations have 
interceded to prevent their implementation and enforcement citing the 
negative impact the caps would have on elderly patients' access to 
necessary services. Most recently, Congress extended through 2011 the 
existing medical exceptions process that gives the

[[Page E718]]

Secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to allow patients 
to exceed the monetary caps if deemed medically necessary.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to continue ensuring that Americans 
have access to the highest quality physical therapy, occupational 
therapy, and speech and language pathology services by supporting this 
legislation.

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