APTQI Joins 100 Groups in Letter to Reps. Bera & Bucshon in Support of H.R. 8800 Introduction
The Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI) has joined a coalition of 100 other groups, representing over one million physicians and non-physician health care clinicians, in signing a letter praising Representatives Ami Bera and Larry Bucshon’s introduction of H.R. 8800, The Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022.
The proposed legislation mitigates the financial impacts of scheduled payment cuts in the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicare Physician Fee Schedule’s (MPFS) Proposed Rule for 2023.
H.R. 8800 provides a 4.42% positive adjustment to the proposed MPFS conversion factor cut, which would significantly alleviate the financial strain placed on clinicians by the cuts found in the proposed rule.
“We applaud this legislation and look forward to working with Congress to ensure it is enacted before the end of the year,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, Executive Director of APTQI. “The importance of Congress passing this bill cannot be understated. Supporting clinicians is the difference between reliable access to care for all who rely on physical, occupational, and speech therapy or a destabilized, increasingly inequitable health system.”
In their letter, the organizations made clear the natural consequences if there is a failure to act by Congress. In the long-term, sustained cuts and the absence of an updated system will result in financial instability for clinicians, “many of whom are small business owners,” leading to lessened Medicare patient access as affected clinicians determine their ability to provide care to Medicare beneficiaries.
“Our organizations strongly support H.R. 8800 as an essential step toward providing clinicians with financial stability and ensuring patients have access to critical services our members provide. Moving forward, we reiterate our commitment to working with you and your Congressional colleagues to identify and advance systemic Medicare payment reforms designed to ensure longer‐term stability for clinicians, promote and reward value‐based care, advance health equity and reduce disparities within the Medicare system,” the letter said.
Groups on the letter include the American Medical Association, American Physical Therapy Association, American Occupational Therapy Association, and United Specialists for Patient Access.