Physical Therapy Leaders Commend Congress for Alleviating Medicare PFS Cuts

APTQI appreciates the partial fix to the across-the-board -3.4 percent MPFS cut, encourages Congress to enact long-term reforms to stabilize the nation’s healthcare system

Washington, D.C. –– The Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI) today commended Congress for mitigating the across-the-board -3.4 percent cut included in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule for CY2024, which went into effect on January 1. The partial fix – an adjustment of 1.68% – will provide some relief to cuts that threaten to disrupt the stability of the nation’s healthcare system and make it more difficult for patients to access the care they need, including physical therapy.

“We thank Congressional leaders for recognizing the risks Medicare cuts inflict on patient access and the stability of our nation’s healthcare system,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, Executive Director of APTQI. “Though short of fully reversing the -3.4 percent cut, the partial fix will help stabilize the system at a time when costs and inflation are rising at a rapid clip. And, most importantly, it will help maintain access to the vital care that millions of seniors rely on to recover from serious injury and illness, prevent debilitating falls, manage pain, and regain strength and mobility.”

APTQI warned that the outdated formula used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to calculate the Physician Fee Schedule each year will likely result in another cut for CY 2025—a trend that has occurred for the last several years and necessitated Congressional action. To help permanently address this situation, APTQI encourages Congress to advance long-term Medicare reform that links the MPFS to a measure of inflation, thereby stabilizing the system.

“We look forward to working with Congress to advance long-term reform that stabilizes the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and ensures physical and occupational therapy practices are appropriately reimbursed,” continued Patel. “Doing so will help therapy professionals and doctors from a wide spectrum of specialties to keep their doors open for patients, particularly in rural, underserved, and high-need areas.”

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