Preserve Your Right to Choose the Physical Therapist of Your Choice, Whether You are 21 or 81! -- Right now, when a patient turns 65, their ability to choose their Physical Therapist is taken away from them. The patient must, by law, see a PT who is part of the Medicare network. -- Many small, independent physical therapy practices must operate outside of insurance networks, including Medicare, because they cannot afford the reimbursement policies of the network or Medicare and they do not want care dictated by insurance administrators. -- They choose instead, to focus on quality of care for each individual and NOT how many patients can be run through the mill in a given day. -- Patients should be allowed to decide what they are willing to pay for their physical therapy and negotiate directly with their PT provider. If they don't find the service valuable, they can choose to go elsewhere. --As our country and politicians debate health care reform and talk about providing coverage for those who don't presently have it, shouldn't we have the right to choose our own PT provider regardless of our age -- Please end this age discrimination policy in Medicare today! And, refrain from adding cash discrimination policies to healthcare reform efforts. Responsible consumers make wise choices! -- Allow patients, regardless of their age, to choose the PT of their choice. America was founded on our right to choose. Should universal coverage or Medicare take that away -- Please oppose any plan that will eliminate patient choice (including your provider or payment method), and age discrimination policies that prevent Medicare beneficiaries from choosing the physical therapy provider of their choice.