Two Medicare Administrative Contractors recently issued four draft local coverage determinations (LCDs) and are accepting comments on the proposals.

This month, Highmark Medicare Services issued draft LCDs for cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation that will affect physical therapists who provide these services in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. APTA encourages affected chapters, sections, and individuals to submit comments to Heather Bennett, RN, at Highmark Services by November 19.

Palmetto GBA issued a draft LCD for home-based fall evaluations and interventions that will affect the delivery of these services provided by home health agencies in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Chapters, sections, and individuals in these states who are affect by this LCD should submit comments by October 29 to [email protected].

Palmetto also issued a draft LCD for physical medicine and rehabilitation that would affect Part B providers in California, Hawaii, and Nevada. Comments are due to [email protected] by December 3.

If you have questions about the LCDs or the comment submission process, contact Sarah Nicholls, assistant director for Federal Regulatory Affairs and Payment Policy at [email protected] or call (800) 999-2782, ext 3189.

[Source: APTA PT in Motion]