Recently released by APTA:

CMS Issues Temporary 10-Day Hold on Claims

Action Still Needed in Congress to Prevent Cuts and Caps!

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has indicated
that it will instruct its carriers to hold physician and non-
physician claims 10 days beginning on July 1, 2008. This 10-day
hold, which includes physical therapy claims, will allow CMS to
investigate its options for implementing schedule cuts and the
therapy cap. Without Congressional action, CMS will proceed to
implement the 10.6% after the hold for services delivered on or
after July 1, 2008. This hold will also impact scheduled reductions
to rural providers and claims for physical therapy and speech
language pathology services that may be subject to the $1810 therapy
cap under Medicare.

Congress will reconvene on Monday, July 7th. Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has indicated that he will schedule another
vote on HR 6331 to attempt to meet the 60 votes needed to proceed
with Senate action. If the Senate meets the 60 votes to proceed
and passes the legislation, the President would still need to sign
the legislation to avoid the 10.6% cut in payments for the rest of
2008 and the therapy cap being implemented without an exceptions
process.

Stay Active!
It is imperative that APTA members continue to contact their Members
of Congress THIS WEEK to strongly encourage Congress to act to
prevent the 10.6% cuts in payments to providers under the Medicare
physician fee schedule and provide an exceptions process to the
therapy cap. Below are ways to let your voice be heard:

Attend events or meet with your member of Congress personally while
they are back in their districts for the 4th of July recess.
Members of Congress will be on recess until July 7. During this
time, many members of Congress will be participating in local
parades, attending events and holding meetings back in their
districts providing an opportunity for physical therapists to reach
out to their Congressional representatives in person.
Call your Representative and Senators. To reach the Capitol hill
offices of your Representative and Senators, contact the Capitol
switchboard at 202/224-3121. Ask the operator to direct you to
your Representative and /or Senators. If you do not know your
Representative, you can find out by utilizing the Legislative Action
Center.
Send an email, fax or letter to your Representative and Senators.
For sample letters and easy access to contacting your Members of
Congress by electronic means or download and print letters, utilize
APTA's Legislative Action Center.
Request your patients to contact Congress through APTA's Patient
Action Center. This site is designed to educate patients on the
issue and provide easy access to form emails and letters for them to
contact Congress.
Stay Informed!
APTA will continue to issue action alerts and information bulletins
to keep you up to date on the latest developments on the Medicare
bill. In addition, please utilize APTA's webpage to stay informed
and active on this issue, please go to www.apta.org/advocacy.

Be Prepared!
To be prepared for the July 1, 2008 implementation date of the 10.6%
reduction in payments under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and
the expiration of the therapy cap exceptions process, APTA has
created a resource center. This resource center contains
information and Frequently Asked Questions on how the therapy caps
will be implemented, additional Medicare changes that will go into
effect on July 1, 2008, and how to assist patients manage these cuts
in physical therapy services. Visit this resource center by
selecting Medicare on the APTA home page at www.apta.org.