Advocacy
Giving Rehabilitation Businesses a Voice
As rehabilitation providers much of our focus is on providing the best care possible to the patients we serve. While devoting our time and energy to quality care we can lose sight of the ever-changing regulations effecting our reimbursement and the delivery of care to patients. We need someone who is looking out for our best interest and the best interest of our patients. Thus NARA created a Political Action Committee (PAC) and Government Affairs Committee. Through the legislative efforts of the NARA PAC and Government Affairs Committee, NARA serves as a voice in the political arena and fights for patient access, reasonable compensation, reduction of administrative burden, streamline of processes between payers for the success of rehabilitation businesses.
Legislation
NARA works to provide rehabilitation providers with information and advocacy efforts for legislation and regulations that directly impact their businesses and their ability to deliver quality care to patients. Our current legislative and regulatory priorities include:
- Educating the New Members of Congress. New legislators must be briefed on issues of importance to rehabilitation providers as well as the value of the services they furnish to patients.
- Rate adjustment for PTAs and OTAs under Part B Medicare. NARA believes reimbursement for assistants who are under the supervision of a physical therapist or occupational therapist should not be subject to a payment differential.
- Medicare Reform: Solvency of the Medicare trust funds, value-based reimbursement, value- based insurance design, preserve rehabilitation provider reimbursement.
- Telehealth and Digital Health Services. NARA encourages policymakers to remove barriers and develop compensation models to promote telehealth and digital health services for rehabilitation services. NARA supports legislation requiring Medicare and federal health plans to provide parity for both coverage and payment for rehabilitation services provided through telehealth services.
- Access to Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) by Rehabilitation Agencies. NARA supports legislation or policy changes that would allow rehabilitation agencies and other institutional rehabilitation providers to participate in this program.
- Reducing Administrative Burden. NARA endorses efforts to increase efficiencies and reduce cost in the delivery of health services including, inter alia, data sharing, standardization of electronic medical records and outcome registries, reduction of complex billing requirements, simplification of coding and submission rules, and removal of burdensome prior authorization requirements. NARA also supports the elimination of barriers for Medicare beneficiaries to optimize access to rehabilitative therapies
- Access to Rehabilitation Providers. NARA supports legislation to improve access to rehabilitative services to the general population in rural and underserved areas. This could be achieved by adding physical therapists and occupational therapists to federal student loan repayment programs, expanding opportunities for direct access. cost of education support through federal programs, expand coverage and payment for rehabilitation services delivered via digital health and telehealth, and reduce out-of-pocket costs for nonpharmacological rehabilitation services.
- Promote Rehabilitation Services as an Alternative to Opioids. NARA calls for policies that encourage individuals with musculoskeletal conditions to use physical and occupational therapies as alternatives to Opioids. NARA believes a multidisciplinary team approach, early conservative treatment, and education for primary care providers and the general public must be part of a comprehensive strategy to combat the opioid crisis.
- Health Disparities, Discrimination, Social Determinants of Health: NARA will be collaborating and sharing resources from our professional associations that can aid in this initiative.
- Federal Deficit: Budget cuts to address burgeoning federal deficit and no disproportionate harm to rehabilitation providers/patients.
- Commercial Market Reform: Shoring up the ACA.
To learn more about each of these legislative priorities, please call us at 1-866-839-7710.
The NARA Political Action Committee (PAC)
The NARA Political Action Committee (PAC) serves as a way to allow individuals, providers, corporations and unions the opportunity to share a common political goal and voluntarily contribute money to affect change in the national political landscape. NARA's PAC serves as a separate fund that is established by NARA, and you can contribute as much as you like. Contributions should be made via personal checks.*
NARA's PAC is made up of our members and other individuals who want to affect positive change in the rehabilitation industry and for the industry’s patients. The purposes of NARA's PAC are to:
- Give donations to candidates for national office and elected officials who demonstrate their support for the rehabilitation industry, practitioners and patients. These donations are given without consideration of political party affiliation.
- Increase and improve Congress’ awareness about national issues that impact the rehabilitation industry and patients.
- Establish an active and effective mechanism for NARA membership in affecting the federal government policies on NARA issues.
- Raise money through voluntary contributions of NARA members and using that money to positively affect the national political process.
Contribute to NARA’s Advocacy Effort
Whether you’re interested in learning more about NARA’s legislative priorities or making a donation to NARA's PAC, you can get involved with NARA by calling 1-866-839-7710.