October 2021 Federal Advocacy Update

APTA Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill Wrap Up

• Impact on bills supported by APTA (as of Sept. 29)
  • Telehealth (HR 2168): 49 cosponsors (+10 cosponsors after advocacy day)
  • NHSC (HR 3759/S 2676): 34 cosponsors (+10 in House) (1 added in the Senate)
  • AHWD (HR 3320/S 1679): 33 cosponsors (+16)

Congressional Update:

• Bera/Bucshon Medicare Cuts Dear Colleague” letter – 129 signers as of September 30th
  • Deadline for signatures was Friday, October 8th
  • HR 5365 – Primary Health Services Enhancement Act
    • Introduced by Reps Ron Kind (D-WI), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), and Don Bacon (R-NE).
    • Allows PTs to work in a Community Health Center and bill directly to Medicare and Medicaid
    • HR 5216 – Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act
      • Introduced by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN)

Regulatory Update:

• Federal vaccine mandates
  • “Most health care settings” will require vaccination
  • Employers with 100+ employees - vaccination or weekly test
  • Federal employees and contractors will be required to be vaccinated
  • Details are unknown until the rules are released.
  • $25.5 Billion in COVID-19 Provider Funding
    • $8.5 billion in ARP funding for providers who serve rural Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare patients.
    • $17 billion for Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 for providers who can document revenue loss and expenses
    • Smaller providers and those serving Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare will get higher rates of reimbursement
    • The application portal opened on Sept. 29, 2021

Grassroots Update

• Flash Action Strategy
  • October 20-21
  • APTA Live Kickoff on October 19
  • Graphics and information to share with students coming soon.