Medicare Spending for Outpatient Therapy in 2017

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has released a 3-page document providing data and Medicare spending for outpatient therapy in calendar year 2017. Here is a brief summary of the report.

Distribution of Outpatient Therapy by Setting

Skilled Nursing Facility: 37%

PT in Private Practice: 34%

Hospital: 16%

ORF, CORF and HHA: 9%

OT & SLP Private Practice: 3%

Physician & Nonphysician Practitioner: 2%

Keep in mind that PT in private practice can include physical therapists who practice in a physician-owned therapy practice, but are submitting claims under the NPI number of the treating physical therapist.

Spending by Discipline

In 2017, the Medicare program paid $8 billion dollars for outpatient therapy services. This was increase of 6% from 2016. Physical therapy accounted for 72% of the outpatient therapy spending followed by occupational therapy at 20% and speech therapy at 8%.

To access the 3-page document, click HERE.