The specialists at Mayo Clinic’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) provide treatment and rehabilitation options aimed at restoring function and improving movement for patients affected by a range of medical conditions, including brain, spinal cord, nerve, and musculoskeletal system disorders. Mayo Clinic offers various treatment options such as custom orthotics and ultrasound, therapeutic exercise, and manual therapy. The clinic also conducts research in rehabilitation science and offers state-of-the-art assistive and restorative technology in the Assistive and Restorative Technology Laboratory (ART Lab).
ATI Physical Therapy achieved an ‘Exceptional’ rating for the fifth consecutive year from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for quality patient care. This rating is crucial for the provider’s eligibility for a CMS reimbursement rate bonus. ATI Physical Therapy provides preventative and treatment care services for musculoskeletal disorders across 24 states in the U.S., with 900 locations and an online physical therapy offering.
In Maine, the Soaring Eagles Healthcare Clinic at Husson University reopened for the spring semester, offering free physical therapy services as well as hand therapy. Catering to uninsured and underinsured patients, the clinic is run by Husson students and professors, providing them valuable hands-on experience while addressing the needs of patients that might not be able to afford continuous therapy.
PT Solutions Physical Therapy has acquired OrthoCarolina’s physical therapy branch, which includes 24 therapy clinics in the Southeast region. PT Solutions will collaborate with Novant Health to provide premier physical therapy services to patients in the area. The partnership aims to prioritize patients, employees, and community welfare while further expanding the reach of PT Solutions.
A report from the Peterson Health Technology Institute indicates that virtual health technologies, under the guidance of a physical therapist, improve health outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. The shift to digital care could potentially save $4.4 million per 1 million insured individuals suffering from low back pain.
According to Transparency Market Research, the global Medical Rehabilitation Services Market is projected to reach $292.6 billion by 2034, representing a 6.5% CAGR. The market growth reflects a commitment to improving patient recovery and quality of life through innovative therapies. Technological advancements like robot-assisted rehabilitation, virtual reality therapy, AI-driven treatment planning, and tele-rehabilitation solutions are driving the growth.
Major players in the medical rehabilitation services market, such as Prism Medical, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and UChicago Medicine, are launching new products and forming strategic alliances, ushering an era of personalized care. A growing aging population, rise in chronic diseases, and advancements in technologies such as AI and robotic rehabilitation are influencing the demand for rehabilitation services worldwide.
UnitedHealthcare, the insurance wing of UnitedHealth Group, has instituted new prior authoritarian rules for clients on a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan who require physical therapy (PT). From September 1st, those needing physical, occupational, or speech therapy in a physician’s office or an outpatient hospital clinic will need approval from UnitedHealthcare. Notably, UnitedHealthcare owns multiple companies that offer home PT services, which are not subject to prior authorization requirements.
Meanwhile, a federal Florida judge appointed by Trump has for the first time ruled that whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act are unconstitutional. The False Claims Act is a key tool for identifying fraud in public health care programs. The ruling could pave the way for future challenges to the law.
Additionally, following a series of government methodological changes, Medicare Advantage plan insurers are finding it increasingly difficult to reach a rating of at least four out of five stars, the score necessary for a 5% bonus payment. From 2025, only 62% of Medicare Advantage enrollees are expected to be in a plan with at least four stars, down from 90% in 2022.
The Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense have released the 2025 update to their Clinical Practice Guideline on the rehabilitation of patients with lower limb amputations. The advice, which spans all the stages of treatment, is based on data from over 1,700 treatment cases since 2001. Updates to the guideline from its 2017 edition include surgical procedures only recently supported by evidence, behavioral health, and pain management. The guidelines will help to prepare the defense health system for wars in the event of hundreds of servicemen and women suffering limb loss injuries.
Sources:
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – Overview
For 5th Consecutive Year, ATI Physical Therapy Achieves ‘Exceptional’ Rating In Patient Quality from the Center For Medicare and Medicaid Services (MIPS)
Open Access | New Report Confirms Health Outcomes Are Improved When Virtual MSK Care Is Guided by a PT- Medical Rehabilitation Services Market to Cross US$ 292.6 Billion by 2034, Expanding at 6.5% CAGR with Technological Breakthroughs in Physical Therapy | Exclusive Report by TMR
UnitedHealthcare rolls out new therapy restrictions for Medicare Advantage plans
