Latest Developments
Background on Therapy Cap
The Medicare cap on outpatient rehabilitation therapy services was originally instituted under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 as a combined cap on speech-language pathology (SLP) and physical therapy (PT) services, as well as a separate cap on occupational therapy (OT) services to Medicare beneficiaries.
The original $1500 cap on Part B Medicare therapy services was intended as a cost control mechanism, but has not proved effective in saving Medicare money. Instead, it has punished the sickest of Medicare patients and denied them needed care. Congress has recognized that a financial limitation on therapy is detrimental to Medicare patients and through the years placed numerous moratoriums on its implementation. In December 2006, the President signed the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 into law. The law directed CMS to continue to allow exceptions to therapy caps for certain medically necessary services provided on or after January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007.
Additional Resources
Archives - ASHA's previous advocacy efforts on the Medicare Therapy Cap Advocacy Campaign
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