APTQI Joins Broad Coalition of Healthcare Providers in Urging Congress to Stop Harmful Payment Reductions

Physical and occupational therapists face 8% payment cut in 2021

Washington, D.C. –– The Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI) today joined the American Medical Association (AMA) and other key stakeholders in sending a letter urging Congressional leaders to stop harmful payment cuts to specialty healthcare providers. 

Addressed directly to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel (R-KY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the signatories to the letter requested Congress to waive budget neutrality requirements within Medicare’s Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) rule for CY 2020, which imposes steep payment reimbursement reductions for a slew of healthcare specialty providers, including physical and occupational therapists. The urgent request comes as healthcare providers continue to grapple with the unprecedented human and financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While applauding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) goal to reduce administrative burdens and improve payment rates for various E/M services, signatories also expressed deep concern that the budget neutrality required within the MPFS rule would destabilize America’s already beleaguered healthcare delivery system. 

“As Americans return to a ‘new normal,’ there remains enormous financial uncertainties for countless physical and occupational therapy providers across the nation,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, Executive Director or APTQI. “Imposing deep reimbursement cuts amidst this uncertainty is a dangerous gamble that puts patient access to critical medical services at risk.” 

The letter represents the latest in a series of urgent requests issued by countless provider organizations concerned about the impact of the cuts. These organizations reflect a broad swath of American’s healthcare specialty provider community, including physical and occupational therapists, vascular surgeons, radiologists, dermatologists, oncologists, and long-term care specialists, to name a few. 

“We are proud to join the AMA and other key stakeholders in calling Congress and CMS to stop these harmful payment cuts. More than ever, now is the time to fortify, rather than undermine, critical components of the nation’s healthcare infrastructure,” concluded Patel. 

To read the stakeholder letter, click here.

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