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Medical Rehab

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in partnership with the Department of Labor and the Department of the Treasury (the Departments), included major updates to the health care price transparency rules established during President Trump’s first term in a proposed rule published in today’s Federal Register. The proposed rule is in line with Executive Order 14221, which ensures health care pricing data is not only public but impactful and actionable.

Key improvements include:

  • Requiring plans and issuers to exclude from the In-network Rate Files certain data for services providers would be unlikely to perform.
  • Reorganizing In-network Rate Files by provider network rather than by plan, cutting redundancy, and aligning with how most hospitals report data pursuant to the Hospital Price Transparency requirements.
  • Requiring Change-log and Utilization Files so users can easily identify what has changed from one In-network Rate File to the next and have clear information on which in-network providers are actively furnishing which items and services.
  • Reducing reporting cadence for In-network Rate and Allowed Amount Files from monthly to quarterly, significantly reducing burden while maintaining meaningful transparency.
  • Increasing the amount of out-of-network pricing information reported by reorganizing Allowed Amount files by health insurance market type, reducing the claims threshold to 11 or more claims, and increasing the reporting period from 90 days to 6 months and the lookback period of data from 180 days to 9 months.

The Departments are proposing these changes to open the door for more organizations, including those with fewer technical resources, to analyze pricing data, build consumer-friendly tools, and drive competition across the health care industry.

Under the proposal, group health plans and health insurance issuers would be required to provide the same detailed cost-sharing information whether viewed online, or in print or provided by telephone, upon request. This modernization would ensure that transparency is not limited by internet access or digital literacy. Further, updated disclosures will take into account new federal protections against balance billing under the No Surprises Act. These disclosures would ensure patients understand their rights and potential financial responsibilities before they seek care.

Additional information is provided on the CMS fact sheet. Feedback and comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until February 23, 2026.

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published an errata document to the inpatient rehabilitation facility patient assessment instrument (IRF-PAI) Manual, Version 4.2, related to the coding of items J1750, J1800, and J1900. This errata document was issued to update guidance related to the Falls with Major Injury (FMI) measure in the IRF Quality Reporting Program (QRP), which is effective on January 1, 2026. Specifically, the guidance related to item J1900 Number of Falls Since Admission item has revisions to the definition of Injury (except Major) and Major Injury.

CMS also released the official Technical Specification Report for the Falls with Major Injury (FMI) measure. This report incorporates feedback received during the cross-setting Technical Expert Panel (TEP) held in May 2025. The report provides an overview of the measure, a high-level summary of the key features of the re-specified measure, a description of the methodology used to construct the FMI measure, and an overview of measure testing results. Additional guidance and related updates to the IRF-PAI Manual, Quality Measure Calculations and Reporting User’s Manual, and public reporting timelines will be provided at a future date. The report is available in the Downloads section on the IRF QRP Measures Information web page.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2026
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET; 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CT;
11:00 am – 12:00 pm MT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am PT
Register Here

Please join us as the IPRC hosts special guest Terry Carolan from CARF International, who will share the new Disorders of Consciousness Program Standards.

Presenter Bio:

Terrence Carolan
Terrence Carolan, Managing Director of the Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services accreditation areas at the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), has more than 20 years of experience as a provider, administrator, and educator in the human services field. Terry joined CARF after working in clinical and administrative leadership positions within Select Medical’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Division and the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation since 2001. Terry was a CARF surveyor for 10 years and holds a degree in physical therapy from Simmons College in Boston. He also recently completed his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will:

  • Describe recent research and guidance on the treatment of individuals with Disorders of Consciousness (DoC);
  • Discuss how CARF International has responded to guidance from the field to create Disorders of Consciousness Program Standards; and
  • Analyze how new DoC accreditation and recent research will enhance access to rehabilitation for children with DoC in the future.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team; attendees do not need to be CARF certified in order to attend.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are available for this course.

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At the December 4, 2025, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) annual session on payment adequacy for Medicare providers, draft fiscal year (FY) 2027 payment recommendations were issued. The recommendations, “Assessing Payment Adequacy and Updating Payments: Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Services,” were shared. Included in their presentation were their findings on admissions, financial performance by IRF provider type, quality metrics, and other relevant data points. In addition to the payment-focused sessions, the meeting included a general session on post-acute care trends and “key issues,” which compared various patient- and payment-focused data across IRFs, skilled nursing facilities (SNF), and home health agencies (HHA).

During the IRF payment session, MedPAC advanced a draft recommendation calling for Congress to reduce the 2026 Medicare base payment rate for IRFs by 7 percent in FY 2027. This draft recommendation is identical to last year’s recommendation and marks an increase over the FY 2025 recommendation (a 5% cut to the Medicare base payment rate) and the FY 2024 finalized recommendation (3% cut).

MedPAC’s recommendations are advisory in nature, and most of MedPAC’s work can only be implemented via Congressional action. RCPA will monitor the status of these recommendations through close collaboration with the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association (AMRPA).

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RCPA is excited to host a membership benefits webinar on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 1:00 pm, as an opportunity for members to orient themselves with all that RCPA membership includes. This is not just for new and future members. For current members, there may be benefits associated with our membership that you may not be aware of, including targeted meetings and groups that are held throughout the year.

Registration is required; please register here to attend the webinar. Attendees will have the opportunity to:

  • Virtually meet the dedicated RCPA Policy Staff and RCPA lobbyists;
  • Discuss the 2026 Legislative and Administrative priorities;
  • Preview RCPA divisional committee and subcommittee meetings and what they offer;
  • View the RCPA member-only website;
  • Review exclusive yearly educational and networking events; and
  • Understand the value of the National Council and ANCOR memberships included with RCPA membership.

Visit the RCPA member benefits web page for more information, or contact Tieanna Lloyd for benefit details.

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Legislation. Wooden gavel and books in background. Law and justice concept

Representative John Schlegel has introduced a co-sponsorship memo regarding House Bill 2070, Clarifying Dry Needling as an Acceptable Practice within Physical Therapy (PT).

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) recognizes dry needling as being within the physical therapist scope of practice. However, Pennsylvania’s Physical Therapy Practice Act (Act 110 of 1975) does not explicitly allow or deny the performance of this type of therapy. This creates a legal gray area and causes uncertainty among licensed physical therapists. Due to the current law’s silence on this treatment technique, legislative clarification is needed.

Dry needling (sometimes referred to as “trigger point dry needling” or “intramuscular manual therapy”) is a treatment method used to relieve muscle pain and stiffness and to improve range of motion. It is important to note that dry needling and acupuncture are not the same, though both are considered needle-based therapies. These procedures have different medical origins, needle placement and application techniques, and serve different purposes.

HB 2070 clarifies that licensed physical therapists may perform dry needling therapy given certain education and training requirements are met and will further specify that dry needling does not include the practice of acupuncture.

A majority of states acknowledge that dry needling is within the scope of practice for physical therapists, including our neighboring states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and West Virginia.

The bill was referred to the House professional licensure committee on December 3, 2025.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared this important announcement from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA is aware that Abbott Diabetes Care has sent all affected customers, distributors, and health care providers a letter regarding an issue with certain FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensors providing incorrect low glucose readings. If undetected, incorrect low glucose readings over an extended period may lead to wrong treatment decisions for people living with diabetes, such as excessive carbohydrate intake or skipping or delaying insulin doses. These decisions may pose serious health risks, including potential injury or death, or other less serious complications.

As of November 14, 2025, Abbott has reported 736 serious injuries and seven deaths associated with this issue.

Affected Product

  • FreeStyle Libre 3 Sensor
    • Model Numbers: 72081-01, 72080-01
    • Unique Device Identifiers (UDI-DI): 00357599818005, 00357599819002
  • FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus Sensor
    • Model Numbers: 78768-01, 78769-01
    • Unique Device Identifiers (UDI-DI): 00357599844011, 00357599843014
  • Download the full list of affected lots

What to Do:

Patients should verify if their sensors are impacted and immediately discontinue use and dispose of the affected sensor(s).

On November 24, 2025, Abbott Diabetes Care sent all affected customers a letter recommending the following actions:

  • For Patients:
    • Determine if your current or unused sensor(s) are affected by visiting FreeStyle Check and selecting “CONFIRM SENSOR SERIAL NUMBER.” You will need to locate your sensor serial number to determine if your sensor is affected.
      • If you are wearing a FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor, you can find the serial number in the app or reader. The serial number can also be found on the label on the bottom of the sensor applicator or carton. (If you are using a sensor with a connected insulin delivery device, please refer to the connected insulin delivery device user manual on how to locate the sensor serial number.)
    • If you are currently wearing or have a FreeStyle Libre 3 or FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor that has been confirmed as potentially affected on FreeStyle Check or by a customer service representative, immediately discontinue use and dispose of the affected sensor(s).
    • You can request a replacement for any potentially affected sensor(s) on FreeStyle Check. Select “CONFIRM SENSOR SERIAL NUMBER” and enter a valid serial number. If your sensor is potentially impacted, you will be instructed to enter your contact information so a replacement product can be sent to you at no cost.
    • Use a blood glucose meter or the built-in meter in your FreeStyle Libre 3 Reader to make treatment decisions when your sensor readings don’t match your symptoms or expectations.

Visit the FDA’s website for additional information and instructions on how to locate the Sensor’s Serial Number.

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Healing Hands — A Collaborative Approach to Treating Pediatric Hand Burns
Monday, December 8, 2025 
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST; 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CST;
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm MST; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PST
Register HerePresenter Bios:

Hannah Gift, OTR/L, CHT, COMT UE, CEAS
Hannah Gift is an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Her primary role is providing upper extremity rehabilitation for pediatric patients with acquired, traumatic, and congenital conditions; she also serves on a team specializing in complex pain and neurological disorders. Hannah previously served on the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) board of directors in roles including Education Division Director and Board Member at Large, and she has taught live and virtual education courses for Select Medical, ASHT, and other local and national organizations.

Jennifer Seigel, RN, CPNP, CWCN
Jennifer Seigel is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at WashU at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She works in the Pediatric Surgery Department and has specialized in burn recovery and wound care for 25 years. St. Louis Children’s Hospital is a level 1 trauma hospital and sees several hundred burn patients per year through both their inpatient and outpatient departments. Jennifer has authored textbook chapters on burn care and often lectures on the topic. She enjoys caring for children and their families in the St. Louis Children’s Hospital burn wound unit called PAWS: Pediatric Acute Wound Service.

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Describe 2 common mechanisms of pediatric hand burns and their implications for wound depth and tissue involvement;
  • Differentiate between the grades of burn injury to guide appropriate medical and rehabilitation interventions;
  • Identify the correct position of an orthosis based on the location of the hand burn; and
  • Discuss the purpose of pressure garments and other scar management techniques in improving functional outcomes for pediatric patients.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.

Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. The registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.

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