• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

MedPAC report supports physician referrals

Rehab Regs, January 13, 2005

As required by the Medicare Modernization Act, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has presented their recommendations to Congress on direct access to outpatient physical therapy, and the news isn't good for the rehab industry. In a Dec. 30, 2004 letter to Vice President Dick Cheney, commissioners stated that they found "no compelling reason to change Medicare's current requirements." They also expressed concern that without physician referrals, medically unnecessary physical therapy treatment could increase. The report suggests that provider education-for both the physicians making the referrals and the therapists furnishing the services-is a key component to eliminating services of marginal value to beneficiaries. Visit http://www.medpac.gov/publications/congressional_reports/Dec04_PTaccess.pdf to read MedPAC's report.

• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive