releases: http://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=1923
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=1923 | Paulsen, Kind, Blackburn, and Matsui Applaud Agreement to Repeal Harmful Medicare Therapy Cap | 2017-11-06 | 2017 | 2017-11 | Republican | House | MN | Erik Paulsen | P000594 | paulsen.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. – Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03), Congressman Ron Kind (WI-03), Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (TN-07), and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06) released the following statements welcoming the bipartisan agreement by the Ways and Means Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee to permanently remove Medicare’s cap on outpatient therapy. This agreement is based on the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act, introduced by the aforementioned Representatives earlier this year, which ensures seniors receive the care that they need. In 1997, Congress placed an annual cap of $1,980 on physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services under Medicare. Since enacting this cap, Congress has recognized the potential harmful effect on Medicare beneficiaries and has acted several times to prevent its full implementation and allow an exception process for “medically necessary” treatments. “Our seniors depend on access to physical, speech, and occupational therapies and, thanks to this bipartisan agreement, they will be able to receive these services,” said Congressman Paulsen. “I am pleased that the therapy caps, which I have worked to repeal, will be permanently ended beginning in January.” “I am glad that we were able to work together to provide certainty to thousands of Wisconsin seniors who use physical, occupational, and speech therapy to continue living their lives to the fullest,” said Congressman Kind. “With this bipartisan agreement Wisconsin seniors will no longer face arbitrary rules and can receive the quality care they deserve.” “For far too long we have kicked the can down the road on therapy caps,” said Congresswoman Blackburn. “Our nation’s seniors deserve a permanent fix, granting them the certainty and access to quality therapeutic services they need. I have been working for years to put an end to the caps and I am pleased we came to a bipartisan agreement to do so. But our work is not yet done – it is imperative we find a fiscally responsible way to ensure this policy becomes law, so it doesn’t act as an additional burden on the American taxpayer.” “Following an illness or injury, seniors need access to the care that allows them to recover in their communities,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “That is why Reps. Paulsen, Kind, Blackburn, and I lead H.R. 807 to repeal Medicare’s arbitrary caps on outpatient therapy. I’m pleased that our Committees have come together with this bipartisan framework to ensure physical, speech, and occupational therapy remains accessible for older Americans. With this framework, we would close a loophole and bolster the essential services provided through Medicare in our country.” Congressman Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus. For more information on Congressman Paulsen’s work in Congress visit paulsen.house.gov. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |