The proposed 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is out, and it doesn't include much good news for PTs and PTAs: another attempt to implement severe payment cuts, the rollout of the PTA payment differential, and no movement toward including PTs as telehealth providers.

But the fight is far from over. It's time to come together and act.

Now available: Two opportunities for you to make your voice heard at CMS, both available in the APTA Regulatory Action Center.

APTA has created two template letters for members to use to submit comments to CMS — one that covers all the issues included in the proposed rule, and a second that focuses specifically on the PTA payment differential. You can submit one or both. Comments are due by Sept. 13.

Fast and Easy
The letters themselves are customizable, allowing you to quickly provide your own take on how the cuts and/or differential will impact your ability to deliver care. Easy-to-follow instructions guide you through the submission process (just upload the letter as an attachment or copy and paste the text directly into the box at the designated CMS comments page). The whole process takes just a few minutes — but don't miss the Sept. 13 deadline.

Does It Work?
Yes.

For proof, look no further than last year, when APTA's #FighttheCut efforts, which included a barrage of comment letters to CMS, resulted in congressional intervention that reduced a proposed 9% cut to 3.3%. The more than 30,000 comment letters sent to CMS by APTA members got the attention of both that agency and lawmakers, paving the way for needed change.