Senate Passes Extension for Exceptions Process to Medicare Therapy Caps

Thursday, 11 March 2010--The U.S. Senate yesterday passed a large bill that included an extension, through the end of 2010, to the exceptions process for the Medicare therapy caps. PAN is pleased that the Senate took action on this issue that is so important to the Parkinson’s community. We look forward to working with the House to extend the exceptions process for the therapy caps.

The Medicare therapy caps are limits on the amount of outpatient physical, speech, and occupational therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive each calendar year. For 2010, Medicare will cover a combined therapy cap of $1,860 for outpatient physical therapy and speech language pathology services, and a separate cap of $1,860 for outpatient occupational therapy services. Once the limit of $1860 has been reached, beneficiaries who require additional services in a 12-month period are responsible for 100% of the cost. In 2006 Congress created an exceptions process that allows access to medically necessary services without additional costs.

Congress allowed the exceptions process to expire on December 31, 2009 and therefore the cap limit of $1,860 went into effect on January 1, 2010. On March 2, Congress extended the Medicare therapy cap exceptions process through March 31, 2010 and retroactively to January 1, 2010.

Now that the Senate has passed an extension to the exceptions process, good through the end of the year, it is incumbent on the House to do the same before March 31. PAN will also continue to work strongly for a permanent repeal of the Medicare therapy caps.

http://www.parkinsonsaction.org/news...e-therapy-caps