The physical therapist assistant pay differential that CMS is preparing to apply isn't just a matter of money — the policy also threatens patient access to care and how we provide that care, and it flies in the face of what we know to be true through our education to become PTs and PTAs. We must act now.

For my practice in central Missouri, the proposed payment differential presents several challenges. The financial implications are obvious: At a time when practices are saddled with more administrative burden, struggling to recover from damage done by a pandemic, and facing further reductions in payment, CMS is devaluing one of our key strengths.

The fact is, the work of our PTAs is crucial to many practices' ability to weather the mounting challenges we face. Paying less for services provided by a PTA only widens the gap between the cost of doing business and what we are paid.