Skip to main content

The end of the hard cap on payment for therapy services under Medicare was big news for patients and the profession—a fact that hasn't escaped the notice of The Washington Post.

The March 1 edition of the Post featured a story from Kaiser Health News on the elimination of the cap, which is described as a change "buried" in the federal spending plan approved by Congress in February, albeit one that "reveals much about how health care financing often gets done—or undone—in Washington."

The article recounts the birth of the cap in 1997, efforts to repeal it, and the regular scrambles to apply temporary exceptions to the policy. And to help illustrate the long slog that finally led to repeal, Kaiser reporter Shefali Luthra retells the story of an ambitious physical therapist who left his practice in Michigan and headed to Washington, DC, nearly 20 years ago to help advocate for an end to the cap. His name: Justin Moore, PT, DPT—as it happens, the same Justin Moore who's now CEO of APTA.

The unceasing advocacy efforts of "a small but impassioned therapy contingent" of APTA members, association staff, and patients is what "laid the groundwork" for the cap fix, according to the Post article. As for Moore, he's quoted as saying "I've got to figure out what to do next." Insider tip: he's joking.


You Might Also Like...

Article

New Study Reimagines the Relationship Between Daily Steps and Health Outcomes

Sep 3, 2025

For decades, 10,000 steps a day has been regarded as a near-universal benchmark for fitness and general health goals — often promoted by wearable fitness

News

Congress Is Back in Town: 5 Things to Watch on Capitol Hill in September

Sep 2, 2025

In July, APTA and other provider groups secured a 2.5% funding increase from Congress to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2026. While this was a

News

October Is National Physical Therapy Month: See How APTA Helps You Celebrate

Sep 2, 2025

APTA is recognizing National Physical Therapy Month in October by spotlighting the vital role physical therapy plays in improving movement for people of