ISMA will join the AMA in signing on to a letter from the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR) voicing concerns with a proposed change to Medicare scope of practice requirements in the FY 2021 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System proposed rule. 

The draft letter, addressed to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma, addresses a CMS proposal to allow non-physician practitioners to perform services and documentation requirements currently required to be completed by rehabilitation physicians. Examples include performing medical supervision, developing patient care plans and leading interdisciplinary team meetings. 

CMS issued the new proposal consistent with Executive Order 13890 on Protecting and Improving Medicare for Our Nation’s Seniors, a measure that ISMA, the AMA and other state medical and specialty societies raised concerns about last year in a letter to Alex Azar, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

The draft letter from the AAPMR can be read here; the final version is anticipated to be sent sometime in June.