Manipulation bill in the House!

Our manipulation bill now has a companion in the House: HB 1918. Sponsors are Reps Liias, Warnick, Ericksen, Upthegrove, Kagi, Hunt, Hinkle and Williams. Although it’s not showing up on the bill search page yet it will be there soon. Here’s the Senate version page:

Legislative Impact Day

On January 22nd, 2009, 625 physical therapist joined together in Olympia at our state capitol to rally support for SB 5230, removal of the prohibition on spinal manipulation.



See the full article from the Seattle Times

Let’s Say Goodbye to the Therapy Caps in 2009 – Permanently!

This was posted by Scott Ward, APTA's President, at movingforwardapta.blogspot.com

As 2009 begins, APTA is renewing its fight to repeal arbitrary and harmful Medicare therapy caps that deny access to needed care for hundreds of thousands of senior citizens and patients with disabilities each year. For the 12th consecutive year, APTA’s government affairs team has worked with a bipartisan group of congressional leaders to introduce legislation that will do away with these caps once and for all. 

The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act (S.46/H.R.43) was introduced yesterday by Senators John Ensign (R-NV), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Representatives Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Mike Ross (D-AR), and Roy Blunt (R-MO). It calls for the repeal of Medicare therapy caps that limit coverage of outpatient rehabilitation services to $1,840 for physical therapy and speech language pathology combined and $1,840 for occupational therapy services.

As those of us in the physical therapy profession know, these arbitrary limits attempt to “contain costs,” but do so at the expense of quality patient care. By introducing this legislation on the first day of the 111th Congress, our nation's leaders are sending a clear message that total repeal of the caps is the best long-term solution to ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries receive the rehabilitation services they need.

It's time to end the year-to-year fixes and pass legislation that fully protects beneficiaries. Unfortunately, however, a solution to this problem has eluded policymakers for more than a decade. What do you think would be an appropriate and patient-friendly cost containment alternative to the therapy caps?

We hope you will resolve to join us in this fight and ensure that 2009 is the year that Medicare beneficiaries finally receive the care and compassion they deserve.

Legislative Impact Day

Hello Members

 

We've just posted some basic information about PT Legislative Impact Day (formerly known as PT Rally Day) on our website. It's linked to our home page at ptwa.org but the direct page link is: http://ptwa.org/Content/Legislative/LegislativeImpactDay.htm

 

For those of you who've attended in the past, much of the information is the same. EXCEPT - we are expecting a much bigger crowd (400!!) so we will be holding the briefing in two locations and we may be starting the briefing at 8:30 a.m. instead of 9. Since one of our briefing locations will be the Governor House hotel, that is where we've reserved our block of rooms, rather than the Clarion.

 

The web page includes information about how to request a meeting with your legislators or a free bus ride (you send an email to legislative@ptwa.org). Please try to sign up by December 15 to help us with planning.

 

Sponsorship opportunities are still available, including $100 Student Lodging sponsorships!

 

More information will be posted throughout December. Stay tuned!

 

Thanks for your enthusiastic support of this year's legislative day!

 

Jackie

Election 2008 Results

On Tuesday, November 4, 2008 Americans went to the polls in record numbers to elect Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. Monica Billger, APTA's Associate Director of Grassroots Advocacy, sent an information bulletin yesterday afternoon on what this historic election means for the future of the physical therapy profession. The bulletin was sent to component presidents, executives, Federal Affairs Liaisons, and Key Contacts. Of particular interest was the fact that nine PTs and one chapter executive ran for state legislature in 2008. In 2009, the profession will have the greatest number of physical therapists (six) in state legislatures in its history. The elected members include: State Senator Jamie Boomgarden (SD), State Representative Sue Allen (MO), State Representative Penny Bernard Schaber (WI), State Representative Randy Stewart (NC), State Representative Phil Lowe! (SC), and State Representative Beth Coulson (IL). Another winner is State Representative (and Ohio Chapter Executive Director) Nancy Garland (OH). Look for more updates to be posted on APTA's Web site in the next few days.   

Stop the Merry Go Round- Direct Access Please!

The Problem: Timely access and provider choice for patients in the UK who need care for musculoskeletal complaints but have to wait months to get an appointment with a General Practitioner (so they can then be referred to a Physio). 

The Solution: Direct access to services provided by a physical therapist 

The Result: Swift, effective care for people of all socioeconomic classes with musculoskeletal disorders leading to reduced work absenteeism, reduced direct costs, and increased patient satisfaction (per the published govt. report commented on in this article). Oh yea, also employment for the 1,800 physiotherapists who have graduate since 2005 and want to treat patients but who cannot find work. 

One quarter of all consults from General Practitioners in the UK are for patients with neck and back pain complaints alone. What are they able to offer these patients?   Hmmm, it appears the "You have Drugs, Surgery, or Us" option applies internationally.it certainly does in this case. 

The Department of Health is calling on the leaders of the NHS to allow direct access. The APTA and its membership has been doing the same for some time now. Excuse me legislators and key health care decision makers: This is not rocket science- what's not to get? 

Round and round and round we go, when will this madness (Medical visit ------ Consult ----------PT) stop nobody knows. However, one thing we do know, and that is that it won't stop until our patients have the option and ensuing benefits of real (ie. unfettered and reimbursed) Direct Access.

 

Rob

Conference Hotel Reservations

Hello everyone,

I am trying to get all my travel plans made for the AAOMPT conference, and I was wondering if there are any guys out there that would be interested in sharing a room. I will be arriving on Thurs Oct 30 at 10 pm, leaving Nov 2 early and I haven't made hotel reservations yet (pending response to this e-mail). If anyone is interested please e-mail me or give me a call at 337-302-7253 (i tend not to answer my phone during the day but I will get back to you if you leave a message).

Thanks,
Stephen W Brittain, SPT
VP AAOMPT sSIG

Cricket and PT - Branding Woes

This blog was posted on myphysicaltherapyspace.com on September 26th

After a recent conversation I realize that there is an analogy that for me shows how it feels trying to communicate what PT is without a success brand:

Imagine going your friends, family and business contacts and try to get them to buy tickets to a Cricket game. They have heard of it, have their own idea of what it is but, if pressed, have no idea of the reality of the game. They would make comments like: isn’t that like Baseball? (Same as – isn’t that like a massage therapist or a personal trainer?), Don’t know if I’d like it. (Same as I don’t think it will help my condition), Never been to a Cricket Game before so I don’t think I want to take the time. (Same as never been to PT and so why would I take the time if I am not sure what it is, or I can exercise on my own?) What are the rules of the game? (Same as – I didn’t know that you could treat that, or I didn’t know you could do manipulation…), and they wouldn’t think to ask who is playing because one team is just like the rest given their perspective (they go where the MD tells them to with go or an MD just sends them to the closest PT).

PT is like Cricket because we have no Brand in this country, the public has heard of us but has no true understanding of what we do. I fear that our existence (with diminished benefits, higher co-pays and a state of significant undervalue in the market place) is truly at risk. Do the powers to be at the APTA understand what Cricket really is? If not then they have an opportunity to understand how the vast majority of the public, many physicians and almost all payors perceive PT.

Been to a Cricket game lately??? - Jeff

National Student Conclave

October 17-19, 2008
Fairmont Hotel
170 S. Market Street
San Jose, California 95113

Registration Costs
Student APTA member - before event $99/ at event $159
Student non-APTA member - before event $130/ at event $190
*to get the 'before event' price, it must be made by Oct 3, 2008
Cancellation policy - in writting to APTA before Oct 3 for a full refund

Fairmont Hotel - 800-346-5550 for reservations (mention APTA 

NSC to get the discount)
Single room - $129/night (probably 2 in a room)
Double room - $139/night (up to 4 in a room)
*Deadline for hotel reservations is Sept. 19, 2008

There is one "Social Event" for Friday Night that has an additional cost
of you want to participate. It is the PT-PAC Late Night Party at the
Tiki Lounge. It's an additional $10/person. AAOMPT will also have a
social event, but it's not official/sanctioned by the NSC and will
probably be a cash bar somewhere on the hotel property. 

Manipulation Legislative Battles, Advocacy and Practice Protection

When:      October 30, 2008  1-6pm; followed by a reception with legislators 

Who:        William Boissonnault, Steve McDavitt, Ken Olson, Melissa Johnson
Where:     Bell Harbor International Conference Center, Seattle
                American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Therapists

How:          www.letsmeet.net/forms/aaompt/aaomptReg.aspx

Calling all Washington State Physical Therapists to seize this critical opportunity to learn about and support our legislative effort to erase language prohibiting spinal manipulation in our state!  Register now www.letsmeet.net/forms/aaompt/aaomptReg.aspx  and attend this landmark occasion with national leaders of our profession coming to Seattle to support our efforts.