A Critique of a News Article on Federal Regulatory Affairs Coursework Example

A Critique of a News Article on Federal Regulatory Affairs
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Professor’s Name
A Critique of a News Article on Federal Regulatory Affairs
Pick a recent “Federal Regulatory Affairs” article related to Medicare or CMS and summarize your thoughts. 
The ‘Federal Regulatory Affairs’ that would be disseminated in this article is “Humana PT/OT insurance policy limits the utilization of significant Therapy Codes.” The news article was accessed from https://www.aota.org/Advocacy-Policy/Federal-Reg-Affairs/News/2018/Humana-PT-OT-Insurance-Policy-Limits-Utilization-Significant-Therapy-Codes.aspx. The respective article was published on the 28th of February, 2018 by the American Occupational Therapists Association (AOTA).
Answer all the below all questions each one separately
What is the main concept/point? What should your peers know?
The article reciprocated that the Humana Physical and Occupational Therapy (HPIP) has capped reimbursement on some of the services (as denoted by the CPT codes) that were routinely administered by occupational and physical therapists in their respective practice settings (The American Occupational Therapy Association Inc, 2018). It is unclear to the AOTA why such restrictions were implemented by Humana Insurance Company. The article further reflected that most of the professional OTs or PTs were unaware regarding such changes in reimbursement policy. Such issues led to huge fiscal loses across professional OTs or PTs. The policy changes were undertaken way back in August 2017 and were further modified from 1st January, 2018.

The OT or PT services that have been eliminated from the reimbursement policy of Humana include infrared therapy, aquatic therapy, group therapy, techniques pertaining to sensory integration, community work reintegration therapy, and work hardening/conditioning bouts.
Do you agree with the article? Why?
I do partly disagree with the article because all these infrared therapy, aquatic therapy, group therapy, techniques pertaining to sensory integration, community work reintegration therapy, and work hardening/conditioning bouts are important interventions in the field of occupational therapy. I do partly agree with the policy changes that are undertaken by Humana and the apprehensions expressed by the AOTA based on such policy changes. The therapies such as aquatic therapy can be exploited by the respective end-users as a measure to improve QOL parameters or leisure.
What are your concerns?
My major concern is that Humana has capped certain interventions (for example; infrared therapy, and sensory integration) that fall within the practice domain of OTs or PTs. Moreover, such interventions are clinically recommended and advocated for ensuing positive health outcomes across concerned stakeholders. For example, IR therapy is an effective non-pharmacological and non-invasive therapy for managing pain. Hence, the sanctions imposed by Humana on such services would deprive patients from accessing cost effective and timely care.
What are your opinions?
In my opinion, Humana should lift the ban on CPT codes pertaining to infrared therapy, and sensory integration.
References
The American Occupational Therapy Association Inc. (2018). Humana PT/OT insurance policy limits the utilization of significant Therapy Codes, https://www.aota.org/Advocacy-Policy/Federal-Reg-Affairs/News/2018/Humana-PT-OT-Insurance-Policy-Limits-Utilization-Significant-Therapy-Codes.aspx Accessed 2nd March 2018