APTA supports health care payment reforms in post-acute care when they ensure access to physical therapy services that focus on the unique needs of patients. However, changes being made to the payment systems for IRFs, SNFs, LTCHs, and HHAs could have a drastic impact on the profession.
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What do AOTA and APTA believe?
APTA and AOTA believe the results of the study point to the need to be wary of payment changes that would gloss over the distinct rehab challenges presented by patients in each PAC setting. The considerations also need to be guided by another factor brought into clear focus in the TOPS study: Rehabilitative therapy works well in each setting.
What are the characteristics of PAC patients?
Results of the study, available in summary and chartbook form, led to three major findings: that PAC patients have distinct characteristics and complex comorbidities in each setting, that the intensity of physical therapy and occupational therapy services is associated with improved ability to do everyday activities, and that people who received the fewest minutes of therapy were at the highest risk for hospital readmission regardless of PAC setting.
Why post-acute care payment policies matter
Medicare's recent implementation of the SNF Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) and the Home Health Patient Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) have resulted in significant changes to therapy practice and the amount of therapy provided to patients in post- acute care settings.
Contact your policymakers
The Resetting the Impact Act (TRIA) - H.R. 8826 would "reset" the development of a unified post-acute care payment system, to ensure these efforts use the most recent data from the most recent payment systems (i.e. PDPM and PDGM).
CMS Proposed Rule Includes Permanent Flexibility for Occupational Therapists to Open Home Health Cases
AOTA long advocated for this change as a way to better recognize occupational therapy as an essential component of home health care.
