Medicare beneficiaries would be able to choose their physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and chiropractors under a bipartisan bill sponsored on June 26 by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA).
“Patients should be in control of their health care, not bureaucrats in Washington,” said Rep. Smucker, who introduced the Medicare Patient Choice Act, H.R. 4204, with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Don Davis (D-NC).
If enacted, H.R. 4204 would correct a technicality in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 that allowed only certain specified healthcare providers to opt out of the Medicare program. Physical and occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, and chiropractors were excluded from the flexibility to opt out, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Smucker’s staff.
“The Medicare Patient Choice Act promotes fair treatment for all types of healthcare providers,” Rep. Smucker said. “This bill gives flexibility for providers to run their practices as they choose and will ensure patients can continue to access the care of their choice when they enroll in Medicare.”
H.R. 4204 is supported by several local and national stakeholders, including the American Physical Therapy Association, the American Chiropractic Association, the American Occupational Therapy Association, AMAC Action, HARTZ Physical Therapy in Lititz, Pa., and the Academy of Doctors of Audiology.
“Patients and their families, especially in our rural communities, deserve the freedom to choose their healthcare provider, regardless of what services they need,” Rep. Davis said. “By creating a level playing field for all medical providers, we will reduce wait times and ensure everyone can make the decisions that are best suited for them.”