Public policy is the system of laws, regulations, action plans and funding priorities adopted by federal and local governing bodies. Advocacy is the process undertaken to provide education for policy makers with the goal of shaping policy for the common good. Consistent with APTA’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, the Hand Academy recognizes our professional responsibility to educate policy makers to ensure equal access to our services, fair reimbursement for those services and protect our profession.
The Budget Reconciliation Legislation (HR 1), passed on May 22 in the House, did not reverse the 2.8% provider pay cut under the Medicare program for 2025. The bill does include an annual inflation payment update for providers based on the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). For 2026, the update would be 75% of the MEI (now estimated to be a 2.6% permanent increase for 2026). Beginning in 2027, the yearly pay increase would be based on 10% of the MEI. This legislation is now being debated in the Senate with 51 votes required for passage
Contact your Senators today to protect physical therapy payment and patient access to our services!
S. 1105 The “No Upcode Act”, was introduced in the Senate to address recent “upcoding” allegations brought against most MA carriers. If passed, this legislation modifies Medicare Advantage plan practices through the following changes:
Contact your Senators today and ask them to cosponsor this legislation!
Legislation Excepting Orthoses From Reasonable Useful Lifetime Limits
No action was taken on the Orthosis Reasonable Useful Lifetime legislation prior to closure of the 118th Congress. We will work with APTA staff and other partners to introduce this bill again in the 119th Congress.
CMS adopted APTA’s proposed change to PTA supervision requirements for outpatient physical therapy practices. PTAs will now be under general supervision in all practice settings in the 49 states already allowing general supervision of PTAs in all settings.
The APTA Federal Executive Order Resource Center is now available on the APTA Community: Executive Order Resource Center. APTA has created a tracking chart for Executive Orders and corresponding Judicial Issues/Actions that will be updated weekly.
APTA and the Private Practice Section have developed payment advocacy tools to help providers address the growing administrative burden due to utilization management practices, the use of AI algorithms for treatment eligibility decisions, denials for long Covid therapy intervention and other barriers to care access. Details are available here: State Payment Advocacy Tools
The APTA Advocacy Network keeps APTA member advocates connected and engaged. Members participate for free and receive special legislative updates and action alerts when we need your voice. https://www.apta.org/advocacy/apta-advocacy-network
Consider donating to the APTA PAC! Your contribution helps staff further APTA’s goals for payment, administrative burden reduction and patient access to our services. PT PAC