PAN Works to Extend Exceptions to Medicare Therapy Caps

[rayilynlee <rayilynlee@xxxxxxx>]

PAN Works to Extend Exceptions to Medicare Therapy Caps

Ray
Rayilyn Brown
Past Director AZNPF
Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation



From: Diane Wyshak=20
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 12:07 PM
To: ray ; Dr. Kong ; don reed=20
Subject: Fw: PAN Works to Extend Exceptions to Medicare Therapy Caps



----- Original Message -----=20
From: Parkinson's Action Network=20
To: Diane Wyshak=20
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 1:07 PM
Subject: PAN Works to Extend Exceptions to Medicare Therapy Caps


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      PAN Works to Extend Exceptions to Medicare Therapy Caps=20
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      Thursday, 04 March 2010-The Parkinson's Action Network (PAN) =
joined together with other leading patient advocacy and provider groups =
at a press conference urging Congress to extend exceptions to Medicare =
therapy caps and ultimately repeal the therapy caps.  The press =
conference was hosted by the Therapy Cap Coalition, of which PAN is a =
member.  John Schall, PAN Deputy Chief Executive Officer, spoke at the =
press conference, noting the toll the therapy caps have on people living =
with Parkinson's and other diseases.

      "For Parkinson's, therapy is literally a life-saver," said Schall. =
 "We are talking about therapy that both provides invaluable benefits to =
a patient's way of life and does so in a cost-effective manner."

      The Medicare therapy caps are limits on the amount of outpatient =
physical, speech, and occupational therapy a Medicare beneficiary can =
receive each calendar year.  For 2010, Medicare will cover a combined =
therapy cap of $1,860 for outpatient physical therapy and speech =
language pathology services, and a separate cap of $1,860 for outpatient =
occupational therapy services.  Once the limit of $1860 has been =
reached, beneficiaries who require additional services in a 12-month =
period are responsible for 100% of the cost.  In 2006 Congress created =
an exceptions process that allows access to medically necessary services =
without additional costs.

      "We are talking about a lot of patients," Schall added.  "We =
estimate a half-million Medicare patients living with Parkinson's, and =
in 2006, almost 26% of beneficiaries diagnosed with Parkinson's =
surpassed the cap threshold."

      Congress allowed the exceptions process to expire on December 31, =
2009 and therefore the cap limit of $1,860 went into effect on January =
1, 2010.  In a very hard fought victory, on March 2, Congress extended =
the Medicare therapy cap exceptions process through March 31, 2010 and =
retroactively to January 1, 2010.  Unfortunately, this is only a =
temporary fix.  Additional Congressional action will be needed to ensure =
that the exceptions process is available to people living with =
Parkinson's on April 1, 2010 when the current extension expires.  PAN =
will work in coalition for a permanent repeal of the Medicare Therapy =
Caps.

      Please stay tuned for updates as this important issue continues to =
move forward.
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