APTQI Commends CMS for Updating Physical Therapy Reimbursement and Equipment Costs to Reflect Provider Input
The CY2027 Proposed MPFS Rule includes several important policies that recognize the value of physical therapy services
Washington, D.C. – The Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI) today commended the inclusion of several policies that recognize the value of physical therapy care in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Proposed Rule for Calendar Year (CY) 2027 released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Specifically, APTQI welcomed an approximately 1.3% overall payment update to physical therapy, an adjustment reflecting technical increases that more than offset the proposed 1.68% cut to the conversion factor. In addition, CMS proposed updating pricing for aquatic therapy equipment, which has not been updated for more than 20 years.
“We commend CMS for recognizing the value of physical therapy care that patients rely on every day,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, DPT, Executive Director of APTQI. “The physical therapy community is pleased that CMS took important steps to adopt policy changes APTQI has long advocated for to strengthen practice stability and improve Americans’ access to care. APTQI’s advocacy—which has been amplified by the collective voice of the outpatient physical therapy community—has been instrumental in securing these policy updates, which we hope will be finalized later this year.”
According to APTQI, stabilizing Medicare reimbursement will increase patients’ access to physical therapy services to protect their strength, balance, and mobility. As an effective, lower cost alternative to invasive procedures and pharmacological treatments, physical therapy results in lower healthcare costs and strong patient outcomes.
“We thank CMS for listening to the feedback, data, and real-world observations that APTQI has shared and for proposing to adopt these important policy changes that recognize the value of physical therapy services and strengthen access to care for Medicare beneficiaries,” Patel concluded.
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