The therapy-incident to rule has exacerbated the already growing shortage of therapy providers in the U.S. At the same time, the number of patients on Medicare will increase form a projected 40 million in 2010 to 68 million in 2030 ( American College of Physicians). The aging American population is creating demand for medical services faster than out schools are graduating allied health care professionals. Hospitals and medical facilities throughout the country are experiencing a critical shortage. As a result of the new rule, thousands of qualified, licensed and capable health providers, who were until this year approved to work with Medicare patients, are forced to site on the sidelines.

In the meantime, Medicare patients are suffering from lack of access to quality care for specialized therapy services. Physicians are frustrated because they are restricted in providing health care services because of CMS's sudden reversal of how physicians have always delivered health care via trusted, knowledgeable and credentialed allied health care providers. Ironically, the same qualified health care professionals can provide services to commercially insured patients – but not Medicare patients. However, because many commercial insurance companies follow Medicare regulations, the Coalition believes that even broader segments of patients will suffer needlessly.

Coalition was formed in 2004 to challenge a rule, known as the therapy-incident to rule, by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Coalition believes that CMS has inappropriately revised the rule and has misinterpreted Congressional intent of the 1997 Balanced Budget Act.

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