On July 1, changes to policies for Medicare reimbursement for medically-necessary therapy went into affect. These changes affect outpatient physical therapy, speech-language pathology and occupational therapy.

Medicare has posted a fact sheet on its Web site for beneficiaries to explain these changes so individual beneficiaries, and their caregivers, may determine if and to what extent, this change may affect their access to Medicare-reimbursed therapy services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is also posting the fact sheet on its site under the spotlight section.

This article originally appeared in the July 2008 issue of AAKP Public Policy Briefing.