At least one group of surgeons is fighting to increase access to physical therapists. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) has gotten a bill sponsored: the "Medicare Oral Health Rehabilitative Enhancement Act of 2008" (H.R. 5590).
Currently, Medicare rules prohibit referrals to physical therapists from dentists. It seems strange to me that Medicare would allow these fellows to operate on someone, without simultaneously providing them with the ability to rehabilitate their own patients. I wonder which groups, if any, actually oppose this bill.
Oddly, I couldn't find this bill on the APTA Legislative Action Center website. But, you can always write your congressman and urge them to support the bill!
ERIC
