Federal Government Affairs
APTA and the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy supports excluding physical therapy services from the in-office ancillary services exception (IOAS) under the physician self-referral prohibition (commonly referred to as the Stark law). This loophole in the Stark Law is detrimental to orthopaedic physical therapy practice. The expansive use of the IOAS exception by physicians in a manner not originally contemplated by the law undercuts the purpose of the law and substantially increases costs to the Medicare program and its beneficiaries.
APTA believes that this issue should be addressed as part of any fundamental delivery system reform and that it could provide cost savings to help support reform. APTA is a also a founding member of the Alliance for Integrity in Medicine (AIM) Coalition, a consortium of organizations which advocates for Congress to address the IOAS loophole. Please utilize the link below to access the Federal Advocacy page and the Take Action Center.