Therapy Cap Legislation Passed

President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed H. R. 4691, a jobs-related bill which includes language reinstituing the exceptions process for Medicare Part B outpatient therapy services (therapy caps). The President signed the bill following the Senate's passage earlier in the day. The legislation is a short term measure which reinstitutes the Therapy Cap Exception Process, retroactively from January 31, 2010 until March 31, 2010.  Additionally, this legislation provides relief of the Physician Fee Schedule cut for the same time periods.

AHCA is urging Congress to take swift action on enacting a longer term fix for the onerous financial caps on therapy services. The organization was one of over forty groups that came together at a press conference on Capitol Hill today, elevating the need to repeal the exceptions process for therapy services to the national spotlight. The Therapy Coalition – made up of consumer, patient, professional, and provider organizations – detailed that the arbitrary financial limits on physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services could force tens of thousands of Americans to forgo critical therapy services, which aid patients in reaching the highest level of functioning possible.

Additional legislation related to ongoing relief from therapy caps is still expected. The process is fluid, and OHCA will continue to update members as information becomes available.