Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) on Wednesday at a news conference sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association promoted a bill that would eliminate funding restrictions for Medicare beneficiaries who undergo physical therapy, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Medicare reimburses the first $1,780 of physical therapy, after which beneficiaries must apply for an exception, which only is authorized until the end of this year, the Review-Journal reports. Ensign, who was appointed in July to the Senate Finance Committee, co-sponsored the bill in January with 33 other lawmakers, including 20 Democrats. At the conference, Ensign said, "Know that you have a friend on the Senate Finance Committee now."

In the House, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) has introduced a similar bill, which has 178 co-sponsors. Stephanie Mohl, ASA's government relations manager, in a statement said, "Effective post-stroke rehabilitation can prevent future health complications, improve recovery and allow patients to live independently, all of which may ultimately save Medicare money" (Batt, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 11/1).

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