From office at ptidaho.org Thu Dec 6 10:28:17 2007 From: office at ptidaho.org (office at ptidaho.org) Date: Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:28:17 -0700 Subject: [List] Info from APTA Message-ID: <20071206102817.dzjvsn59ckckgk0c@webmail.boisecomputerservice.net> RESNA DECISION OVERTURNED Please notify your members that physical therapists who provide specialty evaluations for patients who have been prescribed power mobility devices will not have to receive special certification by the Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). Based on requests from APTA and AOTA, durable medical equipment contractors have reversed an earlier local coverage determination (LCD) requiring certification of Assistive Technology Practitioners (ATPs)?for evaluations made on or after April 1, 2008. According to Power Mobility Devices LCD, specialty evaluations must be performed by a licensed/certified medical professional, such as a PT or an OT. For claims submitted after April 1, wheelchairs must be provided by suppliers that employ a RESNA-certified ATP or Assistive Technology Supplier (ATS) with direct, in-person?involvement in selecting the equipment. AUDIO CONFERENCE DEADLINE IS SUNDAYPlease remind members that the registration deadline for APTA's upcoming audio conference on new Medicare rules is Sunday, December 9. "Medicare 2008 - Changes for Physical Therapy" will be held from 2:00 to 3:30 pm EST, on Wednesday, December 12. The audio conference will provide valuable information on changes to physical therapist certification, qualification standards, the therapy cap, and more from expert consultant Steve Levine, PT, DPT, MSHA; Gayle Lee, JD, APTA's Director of Regulatory Affairs; and Roshunda Drummond-Dye, JD, APTA's Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs. To sign up, download a registration form or call the APTA Service Center at 800/999-2782, ext 3395. ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.ptidaho.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20071206/39f05f90/attachment.html From office at ptidaho.org Tue Dec 11 11:54:37 2007 From: office at ptidaho.org (office at ptidaho.org) Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:54:37 -0700 Subject: [List] Pro Bono PTs sought for data base Message-ID: <20071211115437.vwl05kdh344k88cw@webmail.boisecomputerservice.net> Dear IPTA Members, We are working on developing a national data base of pro bono clinics that include physical therapy services. Our intention is to provide a way for PTs involved in pro bono care to share information and communicate with each other about relevant issues. Over the summer we contacted all the PT Education programs, and now we are contacting all the Chapters. We would be interested in hearing from any physical therapists in Idaho who currently offer pro bono physical therapy services and would like to be included in the data base. Would you be able to put this request on your list serve, and have PTs contact me at: bblack at oakland.edu or by phone: 248-370-4042?Thank you. Beth Black, PT ACCE, Physical Therapy Program, Oakland University Rochester, MichiganMichael Johnson, PT Director, Professional Development Mercy Rehab Associates Darby, Pennsylvania Grace Lefever, PT Executive Director Mercy Rehab Associates Darby, Pennsylvania Beth Black Physical Therapy Program Oakland University Rochester, MI -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.ptidaho.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20071211/55c3b5c9/attachment.html From office at ptidaho.org Fri Dec 14 10:31:57 2007 From: office at ptidaho.org (office at ptidaho.org) Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:31:57 -0700 Subject: [List] Items from APTA Message-ID: <20071214103157.t06grnnv4808s08c@webmail.boisecomputerservice.net> DEMAND CONGRESS ACT ON MEDICAREComponents are asked to remind their members to visit APTA's Medicare 2008: Stay Active, Be Prepared Web siteto access information and advocacy resources on pending Medicare policies and congressional developments. With Congress expected to wrap up year-end legislative business in the next 2 weeks, no details regarding the final Medicare package have been released. Without congressional intervention, the therapy caps and physician fee schedule cuts will take effect January 1. APTA's online resources can help physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students prepare for scheduled policy changes, while demanding that Congress take action against them. PQRI CONFERENCE CALL REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS TUESDAYPlease alert your members of an upcoming conference call covering the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). The call, sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Provider Communications Group, will take place from 3:00 to 5:00 pm EST, next Wednesday, December 19. Registration closes at 3:00 pm EST, December 18, or when available space has been filled. The call will cover the 2008 PQRI program and will allow eligible professionals to ask questions of CMS experts. Diabetic foot care measures have been added to physical therapy quality measures in 2008. Materials for the call will be posted at least one day prior to the teleconference on CMS's PQRI Web page. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.ptidaho.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20071214/eb32115d/attachment.html From office at ptidaho.org Wed Dec 19 18:52:05 2007 From: office at ptidaho.org (office at ptidaho.org) Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:52:05 -0700 Subject: [List] CONGRESS PASSES THE MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND SCHIP EXTENSION ACT OF 2007 (S. 2499) Message-ID: <20071219185205.qxq25b7c0kks0oo0@webmail.boisecomputerservice.net> CONGRESS PASSES THE MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND SCHIP EXTENSION ACT OF 2007 (S. 2499)Congress has approved legislation postponing the Medicare therapy cap and scheduled cuts to the physician fee schedule. Lawmakers on Wednesday sent to the president legislation extending the therapy cap exceptions process and implementing a 0.5% positive update in the fee-schedule conversion factor until June 30, 2008. President Bush is expected to sign this legislation into law. The Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (S 2499) contains several provisions important to physical therapists and their patients, including:* Extension of the therapy cap exceptions process through June 30, 2008. * Increase in the physician payment rate and extension of the physician quality reporting initiative (PQRI). Replaces the scheduled 10.1% cut to the Medicare physician reimbursement rate in 2008 with a 0.5% increase through June 30, 2008. * Extension of the floor on work geographic adjustment. Extends the work geographic index (GPCI) floor of 1.0 through June 30, 2008. * Payments for inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) services. Permanently freezes the IRF services compliance threshold at 60%. Sets the market basket update factor at 0% from April 1, 2008, through FY09. * Reauthorization of SCHIP to March 2009.Click here for a summary of the provisions in The Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (S. 2499) or visit the Therapy Cap Resource Center on www.apta.org/advocacy . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.ptidaho.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20071219/5ae186e7/attachment.html