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National Caregiver Month: Honoring the Unsung Heroes of Healthcare
November 13, 2024
Categories: Caregiving, General
As we celebrate National Caregiver Month, NARA would like to take a moment to acknowledge the tireless efforts of family and friend caregivers across the country. These selfless individuals provide essential support to their loved ones, often sacrificing their own time, energy, and well-being in the process. Let’s dive into the importance of family caregivers, some of the challenges they face, and how rehabilitation services can help.
The Importance of... Read More -
Mental Health Awareness Week: The Role of Occupational Therapy in Supporting Older Adults
October 9, 2024
Categories: Occupational Therapy
The first week of October marks Mental Health Awareness Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues and promoting the importance of mental well-being. This week is especially significant for older adults, who often face unique mental health challenges. Occupational therapy (OT) plays a crucial role in supporting the mental health of older adults, helping them lead fulfilling and independent lives.
Understanding Mental Health in Older... Read More -
Supporting Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month: The Role of Occupational Therapists
August 14, 2024
Categories: Occupational Therapy
August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about this progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, impacting muscles used for activities such as breathing, eating, crawling, and walking. Occupational Therapists (OTs) play a crucial role in supporting individuals with SMA, helping them achieve greater independence and improve their quality of life.
Understanding Spinal... Read More -
Understanding the Distinct Roles of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy
June 13, 2024
Categories: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy
Rehabilitation is a crucial aspect of healthcare, providing individuals with the means to regain or improve their functional abilities after an injury, illness, or disability. Two key pillars in this domain are Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT), each playing a distinct role in the rehabilitation process. While they share the common goal of aiding patients in enhancing their quality of life, their approaches and focuses differ significantly.
Physical... Read More -
Winds of Change Coming - Will Your Business Soar or be Blown Off Course?
February 25, 2016
NARA Spring Conference 2016 May 4 - 6, 2016 Renaissance Washington DC Hotel - Dupont Circle Major changes are in store for the health care sector which will have a profound effect on providers and their patients. The elections in November will bring a new President, determine which party will control the House and Senate, and usher in new leadership for regulatory agencies such as HHS and CMS. Federal agencies will take significant steps to implement new payment methodologies to replace the physician... Read More
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Rehab Providers Conference May 4-6 in DC
February 12, 2016
Categories: News
The National Association of Rehab Providers & Agencies will conduct its Spring Conference May 4 - 6, 2016 at the Renaissance Dupont Circle hotel in Washington DC. The program will kick off Wednesday, May 4th with an introduction and big picture overview as to what is currently happening from a regulatory, policy, and legislative perspective. Over the course of the 2 1/2 day conference, attendees will be educated and updated by key industry speakers on the hot topics making up the big picture... Read More
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NARA Announces Agenda For Fall Conference 2015
July 20, 2015
Categories: News
Are you All In as a Rehab Provider? Are you looking for the most current information which will aid in your business operations? Then you need to attend the NARA Fall Conference: All In! Strategies for Rehab Providers in Tomorrow's Reality October 14 - 16, 2015 in Las Vegas, NV at the Westin Las Vegas. Today's changes to healthcare will be here before you know it and NARA has prepared an agenda full of topics and speakers who will prepare you to face the reality of those changes tomorrow! ... Read More
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Senate Passes Permanent SGR Fix; Therapy Caps Exceptions Process Extended Two Years
April 16, 2015
Categories: News
On April 14th, by a vote of 92-8, the Senate passed H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, which had passed the House over two weeks ago by a wide margin. Eight Republicans voted against the bill: Senators Cruz, Lee, Perdue, Rubio, Sasse, Scott, Sessions, and Shelby. Six amendments were offered to the bill and all were defeated, including Sen. Cardin’s amendment to repeal the outpatient therapy caps. The bill will now be sent to the President who has already stated that he will... Read More
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Capping Problems: Cause vs Effect
February 23, 2015
Categories: Articles
One of the hot-button issues in the rehabilitation industry, as far as legislation is concerned, is the ongoing battle to get a full repeal of the Medicare Therapy Caps introduced as a result of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) in 1997. This act has caused headaches for providers and patients alike. In part-one of this two-part series, we gave a big-picture view of the Therapy Cap and what it all entailed. In part-two, we plan on giving a little more insight into what that actually means and the... Read More
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Capping Problems: More Than Just a Dollar Amount
February 11, 2015
Categories: Articles
As almost everyone in the rehabilitation industry is well aware, there was legislation enacted back in 1997, under the Balanced Budget Act, that placed an annual cap on rehabilitation services under Medicare. While this legislation was intended to prevent organizations from taking advantage of the system, the harmful effect of denying patients the care they desperately need has more than overshadowed the “good” of that original intent. Therapy Cap Background The Balanced Budget... Read More