Re: Congress Overrides Presidential Veto (HR 6331)

[Guest guest]

were there any changes to stark laws packaged in this bill?

Mark Niles PT, MS, CSCS

Integratd Rehab

>

> From APTA

>

> VICTORY!!!

> Congress Overrides Presidential Veto (HR 6331)

> Legislation Enacted to Ensure Access to Critical Physical Therapy

Services

> for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities and Avoid Detrimental

Cuts and

> Caps to Health Care Providers.

>

>

> This afternoon, the United States House of Representatives and the

Senate

> voted to override the Presidential veto to pass HR 6331 – the

Medicare

> Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. HR 6331 includes

critical

> provisions for physical therapists and their patients, including

legislation

> to avoid the 10.6% cut in payments under the Medicare physician fee

schedule

> and the expiration of the therapy cap exceptions process. The House

passed

> this legislation by a 383-41 vote and by a 70-26 Senate vote. A

2/3's vote

> was needed by the House and the Senate to override the Presidential

veto.

> Once the Senate voted to approve HR 6331, it now becomes law

immediately.

>

> HR 6331 – The Medicare Improvements to Patients and Providers Act

> Provisions Critical to Physical Therapist Practice and the Patients

We Serve

>

> An 18 month extension of the therapy cap exceptions process until

December

> 31, 2009 to ensure access for seniors and persons with disabilities

to

> physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language

pathology

> services.

> Continuation of the .5% update for the remainder of 2008 and a 1.1%

update

> for 2009 in the conversion factor to maintain adequate payments to

providers

> under the Medicare program. This provision overrides a scheduled

10.6%

> reduction in payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule for

the

> reminder of 2008 and an additional 5.0% cut for 2009.

> Extension of the Medicare Work Geographic Practice Cost Index

(GPCI) under

> the Medicare physician fee schedule to ensure payment equity and

access to

> services in rural America.

> Increases the bonus payments for qualified providers that meet the

criteria

> for reporting under the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative

(PQRI) from

> 1.5% to 2.0% for 2009 and 2010 to improve quality in the Medicare

program.

> Delays competitive bidding of Durable Medical Equipment,

Prosthetics,

> Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) under Medicare for 18 months by

voiding

> Round 1 of the DMEPOS competitive acquisition program. This

provision sets a

> new process for competitive bidding. DMEPOS items included in

round 1 will

> be reduced by 9.5% to off-set the cost of this provision.

> Improves Medicare coverage of prevention services for seniors and

persons

> with disabilities.

> Expands scope and duration of previously authorized medical home

> demonstration to improve access to primary health care.

> Adds hospital-based or critical access hospital-based renal dialysis

> centers, skilled nursing facilities, and community mental health

centers to

> list of originating sites for payment of telehealth services.

> Thanks!

>

> The extensive advocacy by physical therapists and patients made the

> difference! Thanks for your work to ensure Medicare beneficiaries

access to

> essential rehabilitation services provided by physical therapists

and

> physical therapy assistants. APTA will continue to advocate for

long-term

> policy solutions to the flawed payment formula, a permanent

solution to the

> therapy cap once and for all, and other Medicare policy initiatives.

>

> --

> Kovacek, PT, MSA

> PKovacek@...

> Cell

> Personal Fax

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm not understanding the new 0.5 % payment... is it 5% over the

10.6, less than?? instead of??? is it, just for the 15 day window?

please someone explain for me... and a 1.1% increase for '09?

Mark Niles PT, MS, CSCS

Integratrred Rehab

PTManager , " seaniles " wrote:

>

> were there any changes to stark laws packaged in this bill?

>

> Mark Niles PT, MS, CSCS

> Integratd Rehab

>

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> > From APTA

> >

> > VICTORY!!!

> > Congress Overrides Presidential Veto (HR 6331)

> > Legislation Enacted to Ensure Access to Critical Physical Therapy

> Services

> > for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities and Avoid Detrimental

> Cuts and

> > Caps to Health Care Providers.

> >

> >

> > This afternoon, the United States House of Representatives and

the

> Senate

> > voted to override the Presidential veto to pass HR 6331 – the

> Medicare

> > Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. HR 6331 includes

> critical

> > provisions for physical therapists and their patients, including

> legislation

> > to avoid the 10.6% cut in payments under the Medicare physician

fee

> schedule

> > and the expiration of the therapy cap exceptions process. The

House

> passed

> > this legislation by a 383-41 vote and by a 70-26 Senate vote. A

> 2/3's vote

> > was needed by the House and the Senate to override the

Presidential

> veto.

> > Once the Senate voted to approve HR 6331, it now becomes law

> immediately.

> >

> > HR 6331 – The Medicare Improvements to Patients and Providers Act

> > Provisions Critical to Physical Therapist Practice and the

Patients

> We Serve

> >

> > An 18 month extension of the therapy cap exceptions process until

> December

> > 31, 2009 to ensure access for seniors and persons with

disabilities

> to

> > physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language

> pathology

> > services.

> > Continuation of the .5% update for the remainder of 2008 and a

1.1%

> update

> > for 2009 in the conversion factor to maintain adequate payments

to

> providers

> > under the Medicare program. This provision overrides a scheduled

> 10.6%

> > reduction in payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule

for

> the

> > reminder of 2008 and an additional 5.0% cut for 2009.

> > Extension of the Medicare Work Geographic Practice Cost Index

> (GPCI) under

> > the Medicare physician fee schedule to ensure payment equity and

> access to

> > services in rural America.

> > Increases the bonus payments for qualified providers that meet

the

> criteria

> > for reporting under the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative

> (PQRI) from

> > 1.5% to 2.0% for 2009 and 2010 to improve quality in the Medicare

> program.

> > Delays competitive bidding of Durable Medical Equipment,

> Prosthetics,

> > Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) under Medicare for 18 months by

> voiding

> > Round 1 of the DMEPOS competitive acquisition program. This

> provision sets a

> > new process for competitive bidding. DMEPOS items included in

> round 1 will

> > be reduced by 9.5% to off-set the cost of this provision.

> > Improves Medicare coverage of prevention services for seniors and

> persons

> > with disabilities.

> > Expands scope and duration of previously authorized medical home

> > demonstration to improve access to primary health care.

> > Adds hospital-based or critical access hospital-based renal

dialysis

> > centers, skilled nursing facilities, and community mental health

> centers to

> > list of originating sites for payment of telehealth services.

> > Thanks!

> >

> > The extensive advocacy by physical therapists and patients made

the

> > difference! Thanks for your work to ensure Medicare beneficiaries

> access to

> > essential rehabilitation services provided by physical therapists

> and

> > physical therapy assistants. APTA will continue to advocate for

> long-term

> > policy solutions to the flawed payment formula, a permanent

> solution to the

> > therapy cap once and for all, and other Medicare policy

initiatives.

> >

> > --

> > Kovacek, PT, MSA

> > PKovacek@

> > Cell

> > Personal Fax

> >

> >

> >