For Immediate Release

REPRESENTATIVE FRANK LoBIONDO RECIEVES AMRPA 2008 CHAIRMAN’S AWARD

Award recognizes Representative’s dedicated leadership on behalf of inpatient rehabilitation

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Representative Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02) was awarded the 2008 Chairman’s Award by the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association (AMRPA) during an awards ceremony earlier this month in Washington, DC.  The Chairman’s Award honors Members of Congress and individuals who have made an exceptional and unique impact or contribution to the medical rehabilitation field and the patients it serves through policy, leadership and advocacy roles.  Representative LoBiondo received the award for his efforts in attaining permanent 75% Rule relief, including his support of H.R. 1459, the Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2007.

“Representative LoBiondo paved the way, again and again, for Congress to halt implementation of the 75% Rule,” said Kathy Yosko, Chair of the AMRPA Board and CEO of Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.  “He served as the lead sponsor of H.R. 1458 in the 108, 109, and 110^th Congresses.  The field is enormously grateful to Representative LoBiondo for his dedicated commitment to our nation’s medical rehabilitation hospitals and the patients we serve.”

“Medical rehabilitation services are essential to many people in South Jersey and across the country,” Representative LoBiondo said. “Unfortunately, bureaucrats in Washington rather than doctors in our communities were making decisions that threatened access to these services. I am pleased to have worked with my colleagues and two local rehab facilities in my district – the Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation and the Rehabilitation Hospital of South Jersey - to address this important issue. I appreciate this award from AMRPA, and look forward to working with them on future issues.”

The Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Pub. L. No. 110-73) provides 75% Rule relief by permanently freezing the inpatient compliance threshold at 60%, effective for cost reporting periods beginning July 1, 2006, and allows comorbid conditions to count toward the threshold.  This provision is offset by a market basket update freeze from April 1, 2008 through Fiscal Year 2009. 

The Medicare package also requires the Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services to study beneficiary access to inpatient rehabilitation services and care at inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units and to make recommendations for classifying inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units.  Yosko noted “This legislation provision offers the field and the Department the opportunity to move forward collaboratively.” 

AMRPA is a nonprofit trade organization representing freestanding rehabilitation hospitals, rehabilitation units in general hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation facilities, several skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies that provide medical rehabilitation services to over 700, 000 people annually.  AMRPA includes over 450 members.

Jason P. Galanes

Communications Director

Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02)

202.225.6572 (office)