Urge Congress to remove cap on Medicare therapy benefits

Urge Congress to remove capon Medicare therapy benefits
EDITOR:
On Sept. 1, Medicare imposed a $1,590 cap on its coverage for outpatient physical therapy and speech therapy services in all outpatient settings except hospitals. If a patient recovering from stroke, for example, needs more than $1,590 in physical therapy and speech therapy services, this policy means that he or she may have to pay out of pocket to continue to receive care. If Congress fails to take action to lift this arbitrary cap, it could affect tens of thousands of Medicare recipients. Also, those who experience more than one medical condition could be forced to make a difficult and unfair choice -- to neglect a back problem, for example, to have enough Medicare coverage to return function to an arm and leg affected by a stroke.
Some patients will be able to pay out of pocket for the remaining rehab they need, and some will go to a local hospital to continue their rehabilitation. Others will not be so fortunate. Patients in rural areas, for example, are likely to be left with few treatment options. Limited income and lack of access to hospital centers may force many of these patients to neglect the rehabilitation they need and deserve.
And then there's the issue of the crystal ball. The cap affects the total amount of physical therapy and speech therapy services provided during a calendar year. What happens if a patient uses the full $1,590 by early March to rehabilitate from a stroke but then experiences an unexpected fracture from a fall in July?
As a practicing physical therapist, I know that the rehabilitation needs of Medicare patients can easily exceed what the $1,590 cap allows. Cutting corners on rehab can lead to more expensive complications down the road. By taking action to remove the cap, Congress can allow necessary therapy care to be provided now and avoid the costly consequences of neglect.
Congress has the opportunity to remove the cap. I urge anyone who is a Medicare beneficiary or who has loved ones who are to contact his or her member of Congress immediately. Urge them to take action now to remove this arbitrary $1,590 cap on Medicare therapy benefits and assure that seniors get the rehabilitation they need.
JEAN O'BRIEN
Youngstown
XThe writer is a staff physical therapist at University Sports Physical Therapy.
When wooded areas are destroyed, flooding follows
EDITOR:
Surprise! What I knew would happen when several years ago the developers began to cut down the trees and clear the ground east of Route 46 by Clifton, Rosegarden, and Dawson in Howland Township has happened. Some of the major storms that do occur in this area from time to time came through, and dropped two to four inches of rain on the area. Those trees, and the large amount of fallen leaves on the ground once held back large amounts of rainwater. Result? Without those, all that water came rushing down the hill to the creek, flooding people's houses and lawns, and carrying a large load of silt from the hill, which was deposited on people's lawns and in their basements.
So the township is now planning to contract with a qualified engineering firm to work on the problem, thus finding themselves forced to spend the tax monies obtained by developing that area on correcting the problems created by that development. Why wasn't that done before the first tree was cut and the first spade of dirt turned? Also, are they planning to make sure the selected firm has had real world experience in hydrology? I hope so.
Once the plans have been presented, they should be assiduously adhered to. The penny wise, dollar stupid methodology of the past will not hack it.
JEROME K. STEPHENS
Warren
What are we missing?
EDITOR:
So, two springs and straight to winter. Have to wonder what's coming in 2004.
LEE SMITH
Springfield Township