YOUR COMMENTS ARE NEEDED!!

CMS is proposing fee schedule  reductions to take place in 2007 that will significantly impact the current reimbursement rates for physical therapists. The APTA has followed this closely and published details in the most recent PT Bulletin dated August 4, 2006, Vol 7, Issue 33.

In short, a required review was completed by CMS of  relative value units. These figures, or w RVU's are utlized to create the CMS Physician Fee Schedule. The results of this review impact the work RVUs that are associated with services rendered by physical therapists as well as any other practitioner billing Medicare under the Physican Fee Schedule. The bottom line is fee schedule reduction by approximately 6%  in 2007.  Other factors were also examined which could result in an aggegrate reduction of 10% for physical therapy services. Please note this explanation is very simplistic and you are urged to refer to the APTA website for details to assist in fully understanding the study, it's results and the proposals moving forward.

Details of these changes and assistance in crafting comments  are summarized on the APTA website. You may access this summary at http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Fee_Schedule1&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=2267&ContentID=32755&DirectListComboInd=D

The APTA has issued a call to all members to make commentary to CMS by the deadline of

August 21, 2006.

Thanks in advance for your participation in this important effort to advocate for our profession and our patients.

Angela S. Brooks, PT

VPTA Payer Relations Specialist