<p>From IPTA Office:</p><p><b>Registration Deadline for Audioconference on Home
Health PPS Rule Is October 22</b><br />Physical therapists and physical
therapist assistants who provide services under the Home Health Prospective
Payment System (HH PPS) have the chance to learn how new federal regulations
affect them at an APTA-sponsored audioconference. (The Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services released the final rule for HH PPS on August 29 for Calendar
Year 2008.) "Understanding Changes to the Home Health Prospective Payment
System: The 2008 HH PPS Final Rule" will be held from 2:00 to 3:30 pm EST,
Wednesday, October 24. The call, featuring home health experts Cindy Krafft, MS,
PT, COS-C, and Ellen Strunk, MS, PT, will explain the provisions of the new rule
and how to ensure compliance. You can register online, download a registration
form, or call the APTA Service Center at 800/999-2782, ext 3395. The
registration deadline is October 22.<br /><br /><b>DMEPOS Bond Requirement
Summarized Online</b><br />APTA members can now access a summary of a proposed
CMS rule requiring providers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics,
orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) to have a $65,000 surety bond. APTA's comments
on the rule also are available. The proposed rule, introduced due to the
Balanced Budget Act of 1997, requires the surety bond of Medicare suppliers, in
an effort to reduce fraud and abuse. CMS is requesting comments on the estimated
cost of procuring the bond and whether certain providers should be exempt. CMS
estimates the bond will cost approximately $2,000, or 3% of the value of the
bond.<br /><br /> <br /><b>Registration Deadline for Home Health Regulations
Audioconference Is October 22</b><br />Please remind members who provide
services under the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) to take part
in an APTA audioconference about new federal regulations. "Understanding
Changes to the HH PPS: The 2008 HH PPS Final Rule" will be held from
2:00-3:30 pm EST, Wednesday, October 24. The call, featuring home health
experts Cindy Krafft, MS, PT, COS-C, and Ellen Strunk, MS, PT, will explain the
provisions of a final rule released August 29. To sign up, register online,
download a registration form, or call the APTA Service Center at ext 3395.<br
/> <br /><b>"Stop the Cap Week" Fly-in Registration Deadline Is
October 24</b><br />Please remind your members of the opportunity to take part
in a weeklong advocacy event to stop the Medicare therapy cap from taking
effect. The October 29 - November 2, 2007, "Stop the Cap Week" will
feature an advocacy "fly-in" to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, October
31. Participants must register by October 24. Those unable to attend can call
toll-free 866/346-2770 to connect with their members of Congress to urge them
to stop the cap. Unless Congress steps in, the arbitrary cap on physical and
occupational therapy and speech-language pathology will return January 1,
2008.<br /><b><br />Submissions to APTA's Appointed Group Pool Is January
1</b><br />The deadline for submission of names to the APTA Appointed Group
Pool is January 1, 2008. The Appointed Group Pool is used to fill vacancies on
the Association's standing committees by matching the activity to the expertise
of the individual. Please encourage your members to apply by the deadline of
January 1 (or, if you would like to nominate an individual, please contact René
Malone at renemalone@apta.org by December 12). Anyone wishing to be considered
for a standing committee appointment in 2008 must submit a Biographical and
Consent Form by January 1. (A list of Appointed Group Pool vacancies for 2008
is available online.) Please contact René Malone at ext 3117 or at
renemalone@apta.org. </p>