Unless Congress takes action to extend it, the exceptions process for Medicare Part B therapy caps will expire Dec. 31.

Therapy caps for combined physical and speech pathology therapy, and for occupational therapy will be $1,860 in 2010, CMS recently disclosed. The Senate healthcare reform bill would extend the exceptions process through the end of 2010. The House package would extend it through 2011.

In related news, CMS has temporarily halted a rule that would deny payments to Medicare Part B providers who have not enrolled in the agency’s Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) database. CMS said that providers would have until April 5, 2010, to get their names in the database before reimbursement claims will be denied.