PT proposal

PT proposal

Morris Gallo

9/24/2004

Below is a copy of a notice sent to every PT in the country. While PT
and other progressive professions forge ahead we fight amongst
ourselves and argue if an education is needed to be in O&P. We may soon
wake up and find O&P is the practice of another group that is not us.

} ***APTA LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT***
}
} DIRECT ACCESS COSPONSORS: COUNTDOWN TO 200/20
} Contact Members of Congress to Ask Them to Cosponsor HR
} 792/S. 493 (Medicare Direct Access)
}
} More than 180 Members of Congress in the House and 17 in the
} Senate have agreed to cosponsor the Medicare Patient Access
} to Physical Therapists Act (HR/792/S. 493). Congress will be
} in session in Washington, DC for less than a month before
} members head home to campaign. This may be our last chance
} to add cosponsors before the year ends.
}
} Every cosponsor that we add before the year ends will help us
} next year when our sponsors reintroduce the Medicare Direct
} Access legislation. Our goal is to reach 200 House
} cosponsors and 20 Senators. If your Members of Congress have
} not signed on to HR792.S. 493 yet, please contact them.
}
} As you know, the Medicare Patient Access to Physical
} Therapists Act (HR 792/S. 493) recognizes the ability of
} licensed physical therapists to evaluate and treat
} beneficiaries who require physical therapy services under
} Part B of the Medicare program without first obtaining a
} physician referral if direct access is authorized by state
} law in the state in which the therapist practices. Requiring
} a physician referral is unnecessary and limits access to
} timely and medically necessary physical therapists' services.
} APTA believes improved access to care for beneficiaries is
} critical as Congress looks to reform the Medicare program.
}
} How You Can Help:
}
} We need your help to demonstrate to your legislators that
} this is a local issue. Please call or e-mail your Members of
} Congress and request their cosponsorship of HR 792/S. 493. A
} current list of cosponsors can be found at
} <URL Redacted>
} e_DirectAccess. If you have any questions please contact