"The Advanced Beneficiary Notice: How to Legally Collect Cash from a Medicare Patient"

presented in partnership with State Chapters of the
American Physical Therapy Association

by Helene M. Fearon, PT, Stephen M. Levine, PT, DPT, MSHA,
and Katherine Karker-Jennings, Esq.

Rehabilitation Consulting & Resource Institute, Inc. www.rehabconsulting.biz
 

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Members:  $149 for Members or Staff of Members
Non-Members:  $225 for Non-Members of Staff of Non-Members
 

Click here for more information or to register

The Early Intervention Cost-of-Living Adjustment Cut out of Budget

On Tuesday, August 19th, a Special Session was held to consider over $600 million in cuts proposed by Governor Paterson to deal with the looming fiscal crisis. The plan included the complete elimination of the Early Intervention (EI) Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) restored earlier this year by the State Legislature in the final State Budget. The EI COLA was cut from the budget. This means the 2% - 3 % COLA that was restored will not happen and moving forward, there will be no increase.

October is Physical Therapy Month!

 APTA has expanded on the resources availabe to you during Physical Therapy Month.  Visit www. apta.org to get information on how you can educate the public about your profession!  Included in the resources available to you are presentation tools, Proclamation and Press Release Templates, and the 2008 Media Kit.  Visit APTA for help and Ideas on what you can do!

July 15 Update: Congress Overrides Presidential Veto (HR 6331)

On July 15 , the United States House of Representatives and the Senate voted to override the Presidential veto to pass HR 6331 - the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. HR 6331 includes critical provisions for physical therapists and their patients, including legislation to avoid the 10.6% cut in payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule and the expiration of the therapy cap exceptions process. [read more]  

Legislature Passes Physical Therapy Mandatory Education Bill

Dear Member Colleagues 


On July 8, Governor Patterson signed into law a bill that will require mandatory education for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants licensed/certified in New York State. The legislation was proposed by the New York Chapter after guidance from the Chapter Board and the Delegate Assembly to pursue such legislation in New York. This is a necessary step to demonstrate to the public that our profession values the acquisition of new knowledge to better the quality of our services to the people of New York. New York now joins the majority of states that now have continuing education requirements, including New Jersey and Connecticut. [read more] 

Legislation for profit corporations to practice PT in the EI setting does not make it to Senate Floor

The bill, though passing the Assembly, did not come to the Senate floor for a vote before the end of the session.

Medicare Announces a New Outpatient Physical Therapy Policy

National Government Services (NGS) formerly Empire Medicare, is a Medicare Carrier and Fiscal Intermediary for Part A and B services is several States. In the past, each of the states/regions has individual and often very different Local Carrier Determinations (LCD) or payment policies. NGS has been consolidating these LCD's over the past 2 years. [read more]

New Consumer Choice Brochure Available!

You DO have a Choice
The NYPTA has developed an informational brochure, intended for consumers of physical therapy services, explaining patients’ rights when choosing a physical therapist. [read more]

Are you interested in what is going on nationally with the Physical Therapy Profession? APTA's web site, http://www.apta.org/, contains up-to-date information on Medicare Direct Access, HIPAA, CMS, the Therapy Cap, Reimbursement and other important information.
Visit APTA!