Ensign wants limits off Medicare therapy

Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 | 9:18 a.m.

SUN WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- Seniors would have access to more therapy services through Medicare under a bill introduced by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., Thursday.

Ensign wants to eliminate Medicare's limits for physical, occupational and speech-language pathology services. Congress passed a law in 1997 limiting those using Medicare to $1,500 for occupational therapy and $1,500 total for physical or speech therapy.

Congress agreed to not enforce the limit in 1999, 2000 and 2003, but the latest agreement will expire on Jan. 1, 2006.

"It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive," Ensign said in a statement. "It ignores the health needs of our senior population -- especially the oldest and sickest. That is why I call on my colleagues to repeal this cap -- before Medicare beneficiaries begin paying the price for our inaction."

Ensign introduced a similar bill during the last two sessions of Congress in the Senate and support the same idea while he was a member of the House.

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