Summary of the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007

as it Pertains to Physical Therapists

Becky’s

Schedule

 

· Jan. 1 Holiday

· Jan. 15 CMSA Mtg

· Jan. 18-19 Rehab Net Board Retreat

· Jan. 21 Comp Day

Rehabilitation Network of ArkansaS

Rehab Net News Update

January 1, 2008

Volume 8 Number 12

Title I - Medicare

 

                 Increase in physician payment update; extension of the physician quality    reporting system.  Replaces the scheduled 10.1% cut to the Medicare physician reimbursement rate in 2008 with a 0.5% increase through June 30, 2008. Extends the physician quality reporting system. Revises the Physician Assistance and Quality Initiative fund.

                 Extension of exceptions process for therapy caps. Ensures Medicare beneficiaries access to therapy services through June 30, 2008.

                 Extension of authority of specialized Medicare Advantage plans for special needs individuals. Extends the authority of specialized plans to target enrollment to certain populations through 2009. Includes a moratorium on new plans and expanded service areas through December 31, 2009.

                 Payments for inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) services. Permanently freezes the inpatient rehabilitation services compliance threshold at 60%, effective for cost reporting periods starting July 1, 2006, and allows comorbid conditions to count toward this threshold. Sets the market basket update factor at 0% from April 1, 2008 through FY09. Requires the Secretary to study beneficiary access to inpatient rehabilitation services and care at IRFs and to make recommendations for classifying inpatient rehabilitation facility hospitals and units.

 

Title II - Medicaid and SCHIP

 

                 Extension of transitional medical assistance and abstinence education         programs. Extends the Transitional Medical Assistance program (TMA) through June 30, 2008. This program helps low-income individuals transition from welfare to work by maintaining healthcare for their children. Extends the current abstinence-only education program until June 30, 2008.

                 Moratorium on certain payment restrictions. Imposes a six-month delay on  implementation of proposed administrative regulations relating to school-based services and rehabilitation services.

                 Extending SCHIP funding through March 31, 2009. Extends the State          Children’s Health Insurance Program through March 31, 2009. Provides adequate funding to States for the purpose of maintaining their current enrollment through that date.

                 Improving data collection. Provides an additional $10 million to improve data collection on the uninsured by the Census Bureau.

 

 

(Please note at the time this went to print this bill was still waiting on President Bush’s signature, but the APTA felt confident that he would sign the bill.)