A 15% payment cut for services provided by physical therapist assistants (PTAs) and occupational therapist assistants (OTAs) went into effect on January 1st, 2022. If these cuts remain, patient access to care will be compromised. 

In response, Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Jason Smith (R-MO) have introduced the Stabilizing Medicare Access to Rehabilitation and Therapy (SMART) Act (H.R. 5536).

This bipartisan legislation would suspend the therapist assistant cut in rural and underserved communities. It would also allow state licensing boards to dictate assistant supervision requirements.  

A new report shows that the supervision provision of the bill would save up to $242 million over ten years by reducing administrative burdens, which could help pay for the elimination of the 15% assistant pay cut in rural and underserved areas that are disproportionately impacted by these cuts. 

Send an email urging your Member of Congress to co-sponsor the SMART Act to protect patients and cut Medicare costs!

Please Note: You will not be able to email lawmakers who already co-sponsor of the SMART Act.