06/08/2026
Dear Patients and Families,
I wanted to make you aware of a Medicare/CMS policy issue our office is watching closely.
CMS continues to discuss and propose changes related to prior authorization, administrative review processes, and healthcare access. At this time, this does not mean your current speech therapy services are changing, and no immediate action is required for your current plan of care.
However, as a small healthcare practice, we are concerned about any future policy changes that could increase prior authorization requirements, delays, or administrative reviews for medically necessary therapy services, especially maintenance therapy.
Maintenance therapy is skilled therapy that may be needed to help maintain communication, swallowing, cognition, safety, independence, or quality of life. These services can be especially important for individuals with chronic, progressive, or long-term conditions.
If prior authorization requirements are expanded in the future, it could potentially:
* delay the start or continuation of therapy
* require additional physician documentation
* increase paperwork
* interrupt maintenance-based care
* make it harder for patients to access timely services
Patients, families, caregivers, and providers are allowed to submit public comments when CMS has an open proposed rule.
You can review current CMS proposed rules and public comment opportunities here:
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/centers-for-medicare-medicaid-services
You may also search Regulations.gov for open CMS comment periods here:
https://www.regulations.gov
When commenting, you can share how prior authorization delays may affect access to medically necessary therapy services, especially for patients who rely on ongoing skilled therapy to maintain function and prevent decline.
Our office will continue to monitor Medicare policy updates and advocate for patient access to medically necessary skilled therapy services.
Warm regards,
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Tiffany Moniz MA, SLP
Owner of Speech Therapy Solutions
P: 717-910-3976
F: 717-765-7635
W: www.SpeechTS.com
E: [email protected]
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