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Federal Affairs

Federal Affairs Liaison Report
August 2020

In early August, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published their proposed rule for the Medicare fee schedule for 2021.  As anticipated, the proposed rule includes a drastic reduction in the fee schedule as it applies to codes billed by physical therapists (PT).  The APTA estimates the average reduction will amount to a 9% reduction in payment under Medicare Part B.  These reductions are mandated by legislation that requires an increase in payment for Evaluation and Management codes for primary care practitioners while also mandating budget neutrality for the Medicare program.  APTA and APTA Oregon have been lobbying our legislators in DC and policy makers at CMS about the drastic impact of this reduction.  APTA are working with the American Medical Association (AMA), as well as other professional associations whose members and patients will be impacted by these proposed cuts.  We will need your help to make sure legislators hear from you and your patients about the impact of these cuts.  Much more information is available at the Legislative, Patient and Regulatory Action Centers which can be accessed from the APTA's advocacy page.

 A few other updates from our Federal Affairs group regarding telehealth:

  • Late July, Congressman Greg Walden (R) of Oregon's 2nd District introduced a bill to expand telehealth practice to more healthcare practitioners past the pandemic but did not include PT despite our best efforts in advocacy. His office has been contacted to discuss this further.  Were any actions proposed or recommended? 
  • The House Ways & Means (Nunes) committee drafted and discussed a telehealth bill that will likely include PT. We have no bill number yet but be on the look for a call to action from the APTA and the APTA-OR. If your house member is a republican, please let them know we support the Nunes Discussion Draft Bill on Telehealth! 
  • Lastly, Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee will likely be introducing a bill to include PT in telehealth. We still do not have a bill number for this, but again, be on the lookout for a call to action! 

Mackenzie Van Loo, PT, DPT