Political Quotes

“Before coming to Congress, I worked as a certified therapeutic recreation specialist and rehab services manager. There is no greater joy in the health profession than to see your patient make progress after a debilitating disease or disability. I rise today to speak about how we can allow more patients the ability to live full and healthy lives through therapy. Last week, with Congressman G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina, I reintroduced the Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Act. This bill would allow physicians to prescribe what they consider to be most medically necessary treatments for Medicare beneficiaries within the comprehensive inpatient rehab setting. In 2010, Medicare narrowed its coverage options and limited therapeutic services to just physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and orthotics and prosthetics. Meaning that if a doctor thought that a patient would be served by recreational therapy, it is currently not an option covered by Medicare. Well, that is wrong. Medicare coverage should support a patient's recovery plan as directed by their physician. Such therapies are intended to help those who have suffered a life-altering injury recover their functions and transition back to living a full life. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan commonsense bill. ____________________”