The Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI) announces WebPT as its first At-Large Member and strategic partner in effecting positive legislative and regulatory change to support the future of the physical therapy profession.
The first issue the duo will take aim at is CMS’s 9% cut to Medicare payments for physical and occupational therapy services, which is currently set to take effect January 1, 2021.
APTQI and WebPT will unite their strengths to advocate for the profession in the areas of payment reform, quality initiatives, patient outcomes and innovation. As an At-Large Member, WebPT will also contribute to APTQI advocacy efforts and events and serve on the APTQI Board of Directors, a media release from APTQI explains.
“We look forward to working with the WebPT team to advance policy solutions that support the physical therapy profession and ensure patient access to therapy services in the outpatient setting, including the elimination of Medicare’s planned 9% cut to physical therapy payments in 2021.
“WebPT’s expertise and passion for the profession will enrich our advocacy efforts and strengthen our ability to achieve the policy outcomes needed to ensure our sector’s stability.”
— Nikesh Patel, PT, executive director of APTQI
“WebPT has always been committed to giving a voice to the thousands of rehab therapy clinics that feel like they don’t get a vote or say in the legislation that impacts our profession. Joining forces with APTQI as the first At-Large Member will amplify our advocacy efforts to generate awareness for the issues affecting our industry the most – like CMS’s impending 9% cut.”
— Heidi Jannenga, PT, DPT, ATC, co-founder and chief clinical officer of WebPT
Strong Opposition to Payment Cut
APTQI strongly opposes the across-the-board 9% cut to payments for physical and occupational therapy services presented in the Proposed Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Rule for CY2021. Therapy professionals across the country, joined by more than 90 bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives, are calling on Congress to waive CMS’s budget neutrality requirements for the 2021 fiscal year, thus allowing the agency to move forward with payment changes for evaluation and management (E/M) services without reducing payments for PT and OT services, the release continues.
“The 9% Medicare cut will significantly undermine patient access to rehab therapy services and seriously impact clinics’ revenue. Together with APTQI, we will take strong and decisive action against this payment cut to protect patients and ensure a sustainable future for our industry.”
— Nancy Ham, CEO of WebPT
“These cuts threaten the ability of vulnerable seniors to access the physical and occupational therapy services they need to manage their post-operative care, pain, immobility and fall risk. They must be stopped,.”
— Nikesh Patel
APTQI welcomes new members and strategic partners from across the profession who share its common vision for the future of physical and occupational therapy. For more information, visit APTQI. –
[Source: Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation]
Related Content:
CMS Plans to Continue PT, OT Reimbursement Cuts in 2021; APTQI Expresses Concern
APTQI Urges Congress, CMS to Allow Reimbursement for Physical Therapy Telehealth Services Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
APTQI Applauds Bipartisan Lawmakers for Asking CMS to Clarify Justifications for Provider Reimbursement Cuts
