January 2022 Federal Advocacy Update

The bill provides for a one-year increase of new funding (through December 31, 2022) to the Medicare physician fee schedule to boost the conversion factor by 3.0% which would reduce the fee schedule cut.
With the 3% funding boost to the 2022 fee schedule conversion factor by Congress, the cut to the 2022 conversion factor will be reduced from -3.75% to 0.75%.

Would continue the current moratorium on the -2% sequestration until March 31, 2022, and then phase in its return.
From April 1, 2022 - June 30, 2022, a -1% sequestration.
Medicare sequester payment reduction would return, with the full -2% sequestration returning on July 1, 2022.

Unfortunately, the legislative package released today does not include H.R. 5536, legislation that would delay and mitigate the impending PTA/OTA payment differential.
APTA, AOTA, and our coalition partners are currently working to identify alternative legislative vehicles to move H.R. 5536 forward.

Establishes grants for training health profession students or health care professionals in evidence-informed strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders.
Seeks to identify and disseminate evidence-informed best practices for reducing and preventing suicide and burnout among health care professionals, training health care professionals in appropriate strategies, and promoting their mental and behavioral health and job satisfaction.
Establishes a comprehensive study on health care professional mental and behavioral health and burnout, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on such professionals’ health.

Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act
H.R. 3320/S. 1679
Creates a grant program to increase opportunities for individuals from underrepresented and economically disadvantaged backgrounds in the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, respiratory therapy, and audiology.
Passed unanimously out of House Energy & Commerce Committee.