Legislation & Advocacy

These pages highlight the latest state and federal legislation issues affecting PM&R.

Federal Legislation & News

• Academy Comment Letter on HRSA—42 CFR PT 5: Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professions Shortage Areas (PDF Download)

• Medicare SGR Amendment to H.R. 4213
• Coalition of Medical Societies Supports "The Health Care Truth and Transparency Act of 2010"
• The Health Care Truth and Transparency Act of 2010 (PDF Download)
• Status of House Votes on H.R. 3590 (PDF Download)
• PT Direct Access Amendment “Call to Action” Update
• Academy Opposes Direct Access Amendment to Health Care Reform Bill
• Noridian’s Proposed Non-Coverage of Facet Injections
• Academy CER Efforts through DRRC Promising
• Academy “WIN” at the AMA House of Delegates Meeting
• “National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month”: Thank You to Senate Sponsors
• Academy Participates in Bundling Post-Acute Care Conference (PDF Download)
• Academy Opposes Senate Finance Committee’s Proposed Bundled Payments
• Health System Reform Sign-on Letter (PDF Download)
• Academy Efforts Result in Huge Funding to NIDRR
• White House Holds Health Care Summit
• White House Unveils FY 2010 Budget "Book"

• Obama Administration Jump-Starts Health Care Reform

• Health Care Provisions of the Economic Stimulus Law

• Congressional Legislative Update

• Advocacy: Learn about some helpful “tools” and help make a difference by advocating on key health policy issues for PM&R

• Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC)

• MedPAC Debates Gift Disclosure Recommendations

• Impact of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (PDF Download)

• FY 09 NIH CR Sign-on Letter (PDF Download)

• US HHS Secretary Declares Public Health Emergency for Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama

• New Medicare Law Reverses Medicare Physician Payment Cut, Provides New Provisions

• PRRB Issues New Rules on Appeal Procedures (PDF Download)

• Legislative Victory: Medicare Bill Enacted by Congress

• Health Care Legislation Amid Presidential Campaigns

• AAPM&R Advocates for PM&R Care of America’s Wounded Warriors

• The Academy’s Advocacy Efforts Are Working for You

AAPM&R Advocacy Efforts
	National Advocacy Initiatives/Activities
		Academy Proactive in Organized Effort for Doctor of Nursing Practice Recertification Exam Clarification Read the Coalition NBME March 16, 2009 Letter (PDF Download) Read the AAPM&R July 8, 1008 Letter to NBME (PDF Download)
		Academy Signs on Letter to MedPAC on the 2010 Medicare Physician Payment Update (PDF Download)
		Congress Adjourns for July Recess With Positive Committee Actions
		AAPM&R Advocates for PM&R Care of America’s Wounded Warriors
		Academy Joins the Fight Against Stroke
		AAPM&R supports the ITEM Coalition (Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid). Click here to visit the ITEM Coalition Web site.
	Health Care Reform
		Health Care Reform Updates - Breaking New Developments
		President Nominates Regina Benjamin, MD to Serve as U.S. Surgeon General
		View the Senate Finance Committee’s June 2009 health care reform proposal online (PDF Download)
	NIH Issues
		Learn about the Academy's Disability Rehabilitation Research Advocacy (DRRC)
		May 25, 2010 NINDS Strategic Plan Comment Letter (PDF Download)
		May 26, 2010 Letter to CDC Director (PDF Download)
		Academy Advocates for Amendments to Title II of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PDF Download)
		July 21, 2009 DRRC Letter Supporting S. 1213 (PDF Download)
		Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC)
		DRRC Testimony on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (PDF Download)
		NINDS Stroke Research and Education (PDF Download)
		President Bush Signs the NIH Reauthorization Bill
	Medicaid Reform
		Congress Approves SCHIP Legislation
		CMS Proposes to Cut Medicaid Rehabilitative Services Spending
	Scope of Practice
		Appellate Decision in Selective v. Rothman (PDF Download)
		Academy Wins Legal Support for New Jersey EMG Lawsuit
		Physician Employment of Physical Therapists (for members only)
		Summary of 2009 Report on Physical Therapy Utilization in Medicare (PDF download)
		General Issues
		July 2009 Sign-on Letter Opposing HR 3024
		Physical Therapy Direct Access
		Physician Coalition Unites to Oppose New Physical Therapy Direct Access Legislation
		Scope of Practice Partnership
	Medicare Outpatient Therapy Caps
			Therapy Cap Budget Conference Language Sign On Letter (PDF Download)
			Organizational Sign-on Letter on Therapy Cap Repeal (PDF Download)
			Outpatient Therapy Caps Letter (PDF Download)
			CMS Issues Criteria for Exceptions to Comprehensive Medicare Outpatient Therapy Caps
			CMS Issues Instructions Regarding the Implementation of Outpatient Therapy Caps
	Medical Liability/Patient Safety
			AAPM&R Endorses Bill to Reform Medical Liability
	Medical Inpatient Rehabilitation
		The MIRC Task Force Report
			CMS asks to post AAPM&R medical necessity report
			MIRC Task Force Report: "Standards for Assessing Medical Appropriateness Criteria for Admitting Patients to Rehabilitation Hospitals or Units"
		The "75% Rule"
			Groundbreaking Medicare Package Includes Fix for the “75% Rule” and Delays Physician Payment Cut
			What Is The So-Called “75% Rule”?
			MedPAC Report Discusses Implications for IRFs and SNFs Under the 75% Rule
			CMS releases memo on 75% Rule
			Academy Supports Legislation Introduced on the 75% Rule
			Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility PPS and the 75% Rule (PDF Download)
			Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Development Process (PDF Download)
			AAPM&R Participates in National Initiative for Research on Medical Rehabilitation
			GAO Releases Report on the 75% Rule
Links to Federal Legislative Information
			– Status of Federal Legislation – Leadership/Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives – Key Committees and Members – White House News, Activities and Scheduling – Federal Committees of Jurisdiction On Health Care Issues

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State

	•	State PM&R Society Presidents
	•	Directory of State & Specialty Society Legislative Contacts (PDF Download)
	•	State Society Presidents Listserv Information
	•	Presidents Council Contact Information
	•	Contact Information for State Legislatures Need a telephone number to check on the status of a bill in your state? Have a question that can be answered through your state legislature's Web site?  This directory provides you with telephone numbers and links to Web sites (where available) for all 50 states.
	•	Links to State Legislatures

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