HealthSouth Corporation issued the following statement on the passage of the "Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007" by the United States Senate and House of Representatives. The bill includes language that would permanently freeze the implementation of the 75% Rule at the 60 percent threshold level, and would allow patients' secondary medical conditions, or "comorbidities," to continue serving as a basis for access to inpatient rehabilitation care and services. The 75% Rule is a federal policy which imposes restrictions on the types of medical conditions that can be treated in an inpatient rehabilitation setting.

"We are very pleased that Congress took action to address the 75% Rule by permanently freezing it at it the 60 percent level and we look forward to this important legislation being enacted into law in the near future. This was a bi-partisan solution to a bi-partisan problem, and the 240 members of the U.S. House and 61 members of the U.S. Senate who cosponsored H.R.1459/S.543, along with the Congressional leadership, are to be commended for taking action to address the problems created by the 75% Rule," said HealthSouth President and CEO Jay Grinney. "This is a significant health policy development for thousands of patients across the country, many of whom otherwise might not have access to appropriate rehabilitative care in the absence of this important legislative action. We look forward to continue working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Congress, and our post-acute care colleagues to develop reasonable and sound policies that best serve the patients who need rehabilitative care and services."

About HealthSouth

HealthSouth is the nation's largest provider of inpatient rehabilitation services. Operating in 26 states across the country and in Puerto Rico, HealthSouth serves more than 250,000 patients annually through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation satellites, and home health agencies. HealthSouth strives to be the health care company of choice for its patients, employees, physicians and shareholders and can be found on the Web at http://www.healthsouth.com/.

Media Contact

Andy Brimmer, 205-410-2777

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

SOURCE: HealthSouth Corporation