Campbell, an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) liaison, met with fellow physiotherapy students at Briar Cliff last month to take action against the Medicare therapy cap by writing letters to lawmakers urging them to support the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act, which would repeal the Medicare therapy cap.

If the Medicare Rehabilitation Access Act is not passed by the Dec. 31 deadline, Cross said Medicare beneficiaries will not be able to receive therapy services after hitting the 1980 cap. $.

“They can’t even hit the soft cap of $ 3,700,” he said. “Basically half of their services are going to be cut off.”

Campbell said the project really touched his fellow physiotherapy students who run the pro bono physiotherapy clinic, which serves patients who do not have insurance or who have used the number of physiotherapy sessions authorized by their insurer. The clinic has provided over $ 25,000 in community services since it opened in May 2016.

Cross, who also serves as the Iowa Physical Therapy Association’s deputy federal affairs liaison, said the pro bono physiotherapy clinic exists to some extent because of the Medicare therapy cap, which has a “huge effect” on patients. general health care.

For example, Cross said that a patient who had knee replacement surgery in January, uses all of their available Medicare Part B money, and suffers a stroke in June, will not be eligible to receive therapy services in. under Medicare after leaving nursing. residence.