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Iowa Physical Therapy Association & Foundation 'For the right touch, see a physical therapist.' |
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CLICK ON THE SUBJECTS TO JUMP TO EACH STORY IN THIS ISSUE:
Are you getting the latest Medicare news? - The transition of administration of Medicare Part A and Part B to Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS) is underway. The "go live" date for Part A is May 1, 2008, and Feb. 1, 2008, for Part B. Click here for a WPS checklist that will help you make the transition. Also, you should subscribe to the WPS provider e-newsletter and continue to receive e-newsletters from the outgoing administrators, Cahaba and Noridian. Here are the links to their subscription pages:
Congress extends exceptions process for Medicare therapy cap - Thanks to the exceptional lobbying efforts of APTA, Congress was persuaded to extend the exceptions process for the Medicare therapy cap that will become effective Jan. 25. The extension will expire June 30 if Congress does not take further action to address the arbitrary cap. Click here for details from CMS.
CMS: Claims Will Reflect New Rates - Physical therapists and other health care professionals are not required to take additional action to have Medicare claims paid at 2008 rates enacted by congressional legislation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently reiterated that Medicare contractors can use the new rates to process claims dated January 1 and after. The Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 replaced the scheduled 10.1% reduction in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor with a 0.5% increase through June 30. A recently released CMS transmittal explains these provisions. The legislation also extends the 1.5% bonus payment under the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative. APTA is holding an audio conference from 2 pm-3:30 pm, EST, January 30, with details on the program. APTA's Federal Advocacy Forum, to be held March 30–April 1, will provide advocacy education and training on these and other important federal issues.
Medicare’s New Therapy Plan of Care 90 Day Recertification Period: FAQs - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) included a provision in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule of 2008 that extended the therapy plan of care recertification period from 30 days to 90 days for Medicare beneficiaries seen on or after January 1, 2008. Click here for a list of frequently asked questions regarding the recertification period.
HHAs Receive Guidance on Billing Options - PTs and other providers at home health agencies (HHAs) that are not ready to follow revised billing requirements have access to new guidelines released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Refinements to the HHA prospective payment system (PPS) require updates to billing software used to submit claims. CMS has provided several alternatives for agencies that cannot produce accurate billing codes between January 1 and March 31, 2008, including software that will be posted on the CMS Web site.
Support Student Loan Repayment for Physical Therapists (HR 1134/S. 2485) - Urge Your U.S. Senator and Representative to Co-Sponsor the Physical Therapist Student Loan Repayment Eligibility Act (HR 1134/S. 2485). On December 14, 2007, U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), and Tim Johnson (D-SD) introduced legislation to enable physical therapists to participate in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program, the Physical Therapist Student Loan Repayment Eligibility Act (S. 2485). Earlier last year U.S. Representatives Marion Berry (D-AR) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) introduced the companion bill, HR 1134. APTA needs you to assist in building support for making physical therapists who choose to practice in underserved areas eligible to participate in the National Health Service Corps Student Loan Repayment Program. Call both your Senators and your House member to urge them to support this legislation today! Click here to go to APTA's Legislative Action Center where you can send prepared emails.
Licensure board changes supervision rules - The Iowa Board of Physical Therapy has implemented changes to the rules dealing with supervision of PTAs (Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 645-200.6). The changes became effective Jan. 23. The most significant change allows the supervising PT to "supervise not more than the equivalent of two full-time PTAs, not to exceed four part-time PTAs, who are providing physical therapy per calendar day, including supervision by telecommunication." Also changed was the maximum of PT delegation for skilled nursing from four visits or four consecutive calendar days to four visits or seven consecutive calendar days. The rulemaking also changed criteria for licensure of foreign-trained therapists. A new paragraph was added to chapter 645-200.6(5): "i. Shall record on every patient chart the name of the PTA’s supervisor for each treatment session." Click here to view the new rules (scroll to chapter 200.6).
Education Committee Report - Here are the programs developed so far.
Long Term (3-10 years)
Legislative session begins - The second session of the 82nd General Assembly convened Jan. 14, and bills of interest are now being posted in the Legislative area of this members-only web site. There will be two "funnels" which will eliminate bills from consideration if they have not passed out of committee in at least one house or, for the last funnel, if they have not passed out of committee in the other house. These critical dates are March 6 and March 27. If the IPTA board issues a legislative alert you will be contacted immediately via e-mail with details and instructions for immediate action to contact your legislators. To identify your legislators, simply click here and enter your ZIP code or address. Good legislative relations are important so please take time to get to know your legislators. One of the easiest ways is to make a contribution to the legislator's campaign committee, particularly if the check is hand-delivered.
2008 CALENDAR
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