Senator Fails To Vote: Physical Therapy Cap Is Back

Well the Senate failed to vote on bills S 3101 and S 3118 this past weekend.  The Senate will reconvene on Monday, July 7,2008. Meanwhile Medicare will not process claims from July 1 - 10 to give the Senate time to negotiate bills S 3101 and S 3118. American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) met with senior administrators  of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to request an administrative delay for the therapy cap.  The officials of CMS denied the requested from the APTA. Which needs the therapy cap starts as of July 1, 2008.
OK, CMS will not process claims for 10 days.  The problem for physical therapy practices are twofold, first the therapists will need to inform their senior patients either you have reach the cap or near cap or over the cap. The patient will have to make a decision, do I continue therapy at my present location as a self pay or relocate to an  hospital outpatient physical therapy center. Another option for the senior patient is to end therapy session regardless of their  functional level..  Yes both party's can roll the dice and hope our"all mighty" Senate passes the bills (therapy cap exceptions intack). The senior patient will not be happy and this could affect their health ;ex patient's who had a stroke or knee replacement .  Seniors are very loyal patients. They also love coming to therapy, therapy has a positive effect on our seniors.
Oh yes, Medicare will not process claims for 10 days.  Who will  benefit the most, my vote is for Medicare. Physical Therapy practices are a small business.  Cash flow is very important, remember the insurance industry is the only business that does not paid within 30 days. Medicare's normal turn around time for processing claims and paying is 2 weeks.  The 10 days of no processing claims will turn payments into 30 days or possibility 45 - 60 days if there is a "problem" with the claim. Medicare is  in a better position than either the patient or provider.
My question to Medicare, the reason for the therapy cap was to save money but why do you allow hospital outpatient physical therapy center to be uncap?  Medicare is not saving money  by allowing this to occur.
I hope our society realizes that you can not depend on our government to take of you.  We need stand up for ourselves and make the government work for us. Right now the government is working for themselves. Seniors and providers should be calling their Senators right now.