Providers are seeking legislation to end old therapy cap rates and to see changes in manual medical review process for therapy claims.

Versions of the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act were under review in both houses (S.539 and H.R.775) as of press time. The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living sent providers to Capitol Hill in March to lobby lawmkers.

AHCA/NCAL also wants changes in the manual medical review process for therapy claims, which was set to expire March 31.

“Our goal was to set clear markers of support for the dual therapy issues — ending therapy caps and restoring efficiencies and commonsense program integrity practices to claims review,” AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson said.

He added providers want to ensure a new therapy payment system would include safeguards to ensure compliance and that any MMR fixes would be retroactive.

Bill co-sponsor Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) supports a repeal of the existing caps, noting the purpose 18 years ago “was to help balance the federal budget.”