APTQI Praises Congress, President Biden for Extending Critical Sequester Relief

Therapy leaders hail the final passage of the Medicare Sequester Relief Act, which will help stabilize the nation’s healthcare delivery system by extending the moratorium on the  2% cut to all Medicare payments

Washington, D.C. –– The Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI) today praised President Joe Biden for signing the Medicare Sequester Relief Act into law, a critical piece of bipartisan legislation that will ensure Medicare sequestration suspension will be extended for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). With strong support from both chambers of Congress – the bill passed 90-2 in the Senate and 384-38 in the House – the legislation will strengthen provider stability and protect Medicare beneficiaries’ access to key healthcare services by delaying a 2% cut to all Medicare payments until the COVID-19 PHE expires.

Physical, occupational, and speech therapists – who faced major Medicare cuts before the pandemic even began – are among the providers who stand to benefit from the relief created by the extension of the Medicare sequester moratorium.

“Today’s passage of the Medicare Sequester Relief Act provides additional protections to America’s healthcare providers who continue to face severe operational and financial pressure amid the pandemic,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, Executive Director of APTQI. “By extending the sequester relief until the end of the public health emergency, Congress and President Biden have afforded much-needed relief to providers serving Medicare beneficiaries – including physical, occupational and speech therapists – at a time when provider stability and patient access are most important. APTQI applauds all leaders in Congress who championed this bill, as well as President Biden for signing it into law.”

The sequester extension was originally introduced by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in the Senate and by Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and David McKinley (R-WV) in the House.

# # #