SB Physio’s Upcoming Change in Medicare Enrollment – What You Need to Know
Date: April 8, 2025
To Our Valued Patients,
First, thank you for being part of the SB Physio community. Many of our Medicare patients have been with us for years, and your support has meant a lot to us, truly.
That is why this message is hard to write.
As of July 1, 2025, SB Physio will no longer be enrolled with Medicare. We will not be able to bill Medicare for any services, and, due to Medicare policy, patients also will not be able to submit for reimbursement for care received at our clinic.
We have tried everything we can to make Medicare work, but it is no longer sustainable for our clinic. The ongoing cuts, increasing administrative burden, and staffing challenges have made it impossible to continue delivering the level of care our patients expect and deserve.
Since 2021, Medicare has reduced physical therapy reimbursement by over 10%, with additional cuts each year. At the same time, the administrative demands continue to grow, pulling time and focus away from patient care. Meanwhile, the cost of doing business in Santa Barbara has made it incredibly difficult to retain and recruit physical therapists.
Since returning to full operations after COVID, we have lost ten physical therapists, and replacing them has become nearly impossible under the current model.
We have reached a point where staying in the Medicare system would compromise what we stand for, and that is not a trade we are willing to make.
While this is a significant change, it also opens the door for us to care for patients in a different, more flexible way. This shift allows us to:
Offer better appointment availability
Respond more quickly to patient needs
Spend more one-on-one time with each patient
Provide care without insurance limitations dictating how we treat
If you will need Medicare-covered physical therapy after June 30, we are here to support you and can help connect you with a trusted participating provider.
If you would like to continue care with us, we’ll be here — just outside the Medicare system. Many patients are already taking advantage of our Balance & Strength small group classes and additional wellness services, and we will be growing those offerings moving forward.
I know this change may come as a surprise, and I am more than happy to answer any questions you have. This was a difficult decision, but it is one we had to make to protect the future of SB Physio and continue serving Santa Barbara for years to come.
Thank you again for being part of the SB Physio community; we are grateful for your trust and hope to continue earning it in this next chapter.
Regards,
Art Van Leuven, PT, DPT, ATC
Founder, SB Physio
