Published: October 27, 2009 08:00 pm      

Physical therapist asks for change in coverage

EDMOND — Physical Therapy Month is a nationwide observance celebrated each October. Traditionally, physical therapists are recognized for their vital role in improving quality of life and reducing pain for individuals across a broad spectrum of diagnoses, backgrounds and circumstances.

However, this year health-care reform issues have quieted the usual accolades and congratulations as the physical therapy profession, and entire health-care community, finds itself at the precipice of change. Physical therapists across the country are being asked to unite and encourage legislators and policy makers to focus on the provision of comprehensive and high-quality care, documented cost savings and appropriate utilization of physical therapy services as reform measures move forward.

As a member of the physical therapy profession, I strongly support the Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act introduced by both Democratic and Republican senators. This legislation allows Medicare Part B beneficiaries who need outpatient physical therapy to have direct access to physical therapist services as permitted by state law.

As a physical therapist residing in Oklahoma, I am completely aware that 48 other states allow physical therapists to evaluate patients without a referral from another health-care professional and 44 states improve accessibility further by allowing physical therapists to evaluate and treat under certain conditions. However, my state, Oklahoma, allows me neither option. This unnecessary barrier to patient access delays care and adds additional costs for patients and the health-care system. It is clearly time for change!

The essence of comprehensive reform embraces the idea of repealing outdated and restrictive policies that negatively impact the patients who need care the most. To this end, the entire rehabilitation therapy community should advocate for the repeal of arbitrary limits on Medicare outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services often referred to as “therapy caps.” We should help our senior citizens get the intensive therapy they need so they can resume active lives, not institute roadblocks to their recovery.

Every day almost one million Americans are treated by a physical therapist in a hospital, clinic, health agency or private practice. For these patients, the benefits of physical therapy are evident; however, the idea of physical therapy as a cost-effective alternative to expensive surgeries and prescription drugs is oftentimes marginalized and under reported. Physical therapists are key health-care team members who routinely address preventative initiatives, such as reducing falls, improving physical activity to mitigate chronic disease and tailoring wellness programs for populations that have chronic conditions or disabilities. I strongly promote and encourage legislators to ensure rehabilitation services are an essential element of a standard benefits package in any proposal to reform the insurance delivery system.

As a physical therapist, I take great pride in the accomplishments, documented cost savings and high-quality care provided to countless individuals each and every day. Physical therapy is an honorable, worthy profession and I urge my colleagues to become involved in the health-care reform debate both at the state and federal level. The current nationwide focus on health-care reform provides us an unprecedented opportunity to have an impact and make our voices heard, to ensure we can continue to provide the type of uncompromised, quality rehabilitation care our patients both need and deserve.



JOE STREICH, an Edmond resident, is the vice president of Outpatient Services for Valir Health. He serves as the reimbursement chairman of the Oklahoma Physical Therapy Association.