Physician Fee Schedule Resources from APTA

posted: Sep/03/2010

Physician Fee Schedule Resources
On June 25, 2010, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the proposed physician fee schedule rule that would implement key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and update payment rates under the physician fee schedule for services furnished on or after January 1, 2011 (CY 2011). If this rule becomes effective, physicians, physical therapists, and other health care professionals would receive a 6.1% cut to their Medicare payments starting January 1, 2011, in addition to the 21.3% reduction that has been delayed several times already this year due to the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. This reduction was replaced with a 2.2% update until November 30, 2010, when the President signed the "Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010" on Friday, June 25.

In addition to the projected reductions due to the SGR, CMS also proposes a multiple procedure payment reduction policy (MPPR) that would result in significant reductions in payment for outpatient therapy services. Specifically, CMS proposes to make full payment for the therapy service or unit with the highest practice expense value and payment of 50% of the practice expense component for the second and subsequent procedures or units of the service furnished during the same day for the same patient. The work and malpractice components of the therapy service payment would not be reduced. The proposed multiple procedure payment reduction policy would apply to both the services paid under the physician fee schedule (PFS) that are furnished in the office setting and those services paid at the PFS rates that are furnished by outpatient hospitals, home health agencies (Part B), skilled nursing facilities (Part B), comprehensive rehabilitation facilities, and other entities that are paid by Medicare for outpatient therapy services. It is estimated that if the multiple procedure payment reduction policy were implemented, payment for outpatient therapy services would be reduced by approximately 13% in addition to the projected SGR payment cut for CY 2011.

APTA is gravely concerned with the magnitude of these proposed reductions in payment, and believes that CMS's proposal to apply the multiple procedure payment reduction to outpatient therapy services is based on flawed presumptions and has no justification. APTA will aggressively work to stop implementation of the proposed MPPR policy and the SGR payment reductions. More information on 2011 Resources can be found at the following link. 

http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=FeeSchedule&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=338&ContentID=48497

 

APTA Backpack Handout Gets New Look

posted: Aug/13/2010

APTA's Backpack Handout Gets a New Look
APTA's backpack safety tips have a 'brand' new look and are available for APTA members to distribute in their practices and at school events and community health fairs. The recently redesigned handout can be found in the Public Relations Resource Center by clicking on "Brochures and PT Tips" and on APTA's consumer Web site www.moveforwardpt.com under the News tab. As kids and parents prepare for the new school year, make sure they're armed with these tips to help ensure proper backpack fit.

 

Nominating Committee Seeking Candidates for Fall Election

posted: Aug/11/2010

The WPTA Nominating Committee is seeking recommendations for therapists interested in serving the WPTA. Open positions in the late Fall 2010 election for office to begin in June of 2011 include: Secretary, Treasurer, Nominating Committee, Ethics Committee, Director, Delegate and PTA Caucus Rep.

A link to position descriptions and duties can be found at http://www.wpta.org/pdfs/leadership/BODjobdesc.pdf

If you are interested in submitting your name or a peer's as a potential candidate, please contact Diane Slaughter, PT, MS,  ATC, Chair of the WPTA Nominating Committee at diane.slaughter@marquette.edu. All names submitted will be considered by the Nominating Committee. The Committee will slate candidates for the election to be held in late November or early December.

WPTA Members Share Health Tips with WI Public Radio Listeners

posted: Aug/04/2010

Each month on the Larry Meillor show, Wisconsin Public Radio listeners get advice on treating pains, sprains, and strains from WPTA members UW-Madison Physical Therapy Associate Professor Bill Boissonnault and Senior Physical Therapist Lori Thein Brody. Listen to upcoming shows on August 9th and September 20th from 11am-12:30pm.

Listen to an audio clip here

The SE District is now seeking nominations for the Mary Pat Murray Award to be presented at the November meeting.

posted: Jul/12/2010

The SE District is now seeking nominations for
the Mary Pat Murray Award
to be presented at the November meeting.

Please click attachment for a nomination form.

 

MARY PAT MURRAY AWARD NOMINATION CRITERIA

1. The recipient, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, must be a current member in good standing of the APTA/WPTA at the time of the nomination and receipt of the award.

2. The recipient must have a minimum of two years of clinical experience. The recipient may be currently working in the clinical, academic, or administrative domains of the profession of physical therapy.

3. The reason for nomination must be for an area of clinical excellence, including but not limited to:

• Areas of special clinical program development enhancing the utilization and/or promotion of the physical therapy profession;
• Areas of research completed;
• Treatment in a specialty area or use of a specialized treatment technique or approach;
• Clinical or academic teaching specialty.

 

Attachments:

 

          MARY-PAT-MURRAY-AWARD-FOR-CLINICAL-EXCELLENCE-2010.doc

NCD Meeting Minutes 5/18/10

posted: May/26/2010

North Central District – WPTA
May 18, 2010 Meeting Minutes

Videoconference Sites:
Stevens Point: Dennis Kaster (Chair), Wes Kurszewski, Louis Smith

Marshfield: Janice Devine-Ruggles (Treasurer), Dave Smith (Secretary)

Minocqua: Stephanie Mikolicek (Branding Rep), student

Weston: Brad Jordan (local contact), Beth Schmelling

Rhinelander: Robert Wojnowski

Park Falls: no one present

In-service/Presentation/Discussion: (at end of meeting)
• “Mental Practice for Relearning Locomotor Skills” (PTJ Feb 2010; 90:240-251. Round table discussion led by Janice Devine-Ruggles PT

Officer Reports:
• Treasurer – Janice Devine-Ruggles:
o $1892.26 – checking account; $60 soon to be deposited (Ethics course Oct 2009)
• Branding Representative – Stephanie Mikolicek
o No action to date; position still evolving within WPTA. Dennis Kearns-Legoo taking over as contact person for Stephanie Mikolicek

Discussion / New Business:
• WPTA Update: Strategic Planning Meeting summary (Dennis Kaster – Chair)
o Consumers and health care providers will recognize PTs as practitioners of choice in prevention, rehabilitation and wellness.
o Practitioners will influence policy on access and payment for physical therapy services.
o Members will demonstrate understanding of the attributes of autonomous practice as defined by APTA
o Eliminate barriers to autonomous practice in WI. Significant energy being spent on direct access in hospital with goal to add 5 hospitals; currently 6 have direct access in WI.
o Enhance membership by recruiting and retaining involved and engaged members. Focus on increasing Involvement instead of focus on being “present” (i.e. at meetings, events). Also, effort to increase student involvement/membership.
o Establish and maintain methods of communication for promoting an informed membership. Discussion regarding “electronic age” and potential use of FaceBook, Twitter, Videoconferencing, email, website, texting)
o WPTA “rocks” per Marcy Dwyer (Michigan PT Assoc) – she facilitated meeting; ranked WI as one of top Assoc. in country due to high membership, high retention, and a lot of agreement among members (surveys)
• Legislative Update:
o Independent PT Examining Board in place as of 3/11/10
o AT Bill passed with significant WPTA input
o Nothing currently on agenda; assessing future needs
• Membership strategies: (also see above WPTA info)
o Focus (from WPTA) is on Involvement instead of presence
o Discussion about NCD meeting content and input from members/staff
§ Present evidence and clinical use issues
§ CE units
§ Food available – decided it would be too difficult every meeting
§ Inform members about meeting well ahead of time; make push locally and personal to staff; ?? handwritten letters
§ Request for Mondays versus Tuesdays – consensus was that Tuesdays was better
§ Options of 1 local (?videoconf) with CEUs/food for 2 hours; other meetings via videoconferencing
• Fall conference social:
o Wisconsin Dells (Kalahari) October 14, 6-7 pm before Professional Issues Forum; cash bar
o Ideas: give aways, food – send any ideas to Dennis.Kaster@ministryhealth.org
• Elections: re-elected to Chair – Dennis Kaster; Vice Chair – Stephanie Olson
o Secretary and Treasurer elections next year
• CEU requirements: due February 28, 2011
o Prorated for year: PT 20 hours (4 hours Ethics); PTA 13 hours (4 hours Ethics)
o NCD Ethics Course
§ “Informed Consent”, Tuesday September 21, 2010, in Marshfield at Froehlke Auditorium, 4-8 pm (4 CEUs)
§ Free for members; $60 nonmembers
§ ?? ethics course in Wausau area – decided to not do this fall due to timing, weather issues in later fall/early winter
o Future: Ethics course at St. Michaels in Stevens Point for Ministry staff in August 2010; may be opened to others; title TBA
o “Explain Pain Course” – NWD-Eau Claire – June 12-13 – contact Wes Kurszewski for details and registration ASAP. (715) 424-8600
o Future Meetings:
§ Round table discussion of articles/topics/political issues with CEUs; goal of maximum participation instead of “presentation” or lecture style.
§ Stephanie Olson to organize with assistance of Wes Kurszewski and Stephanie Mikolicek. Send ideas or comments to Stephanie.Olson@ministryhealth.org .

Future Meetings:
• NEXT MEETING: Ethics course in Marshfield as noted above, September 21
• 3rd Tuesday of February, 2011

Submitted by NCD Treasurer, Dave Smith, March 1, 2010

 

SWD 4/26/10 Meeting Minutes

posted: May/26/2010

SWD Business meeting April 26, 2010
Location Sport and Spine Physical Therapy
- Combo Business Meeting and CE: Nutrition and PT presented by Tiffany Virag

Office Reports

-SWD chair – Blase Strobl directed the meeting today
- brief updates from State level on WATA legislation (passed without WPTA opposition), PT now has a separate examining board

-SWD Treasurer Report Sue Meng
- Current balance $6600, recent January CE brought in $800 for district
- suggested developing a key contact list for specific WPTA committees, issues

Chantel Hasman – CE chair
- Recognized speakers from January 10th CE that were present for today’s meeting: Jill Boissonnault, Michelle Stanley, Kristi Hallisy
- Future CE
o August 19th , Thursday, 4-8 p.m.: Tina Stoeckmann, PT (Marquette U), Melody Kraii LPN, Topic: Documentation /CPT / coding /Social Justice (resource allocation – paying for health care), location Meriter hospital. Cost:$25 members, $50 non-members.
o October 25th: business meeting and CE, presentation by William Fowler, MD, Topic: MRI/LBP algorhythms. Location to be announced.
- Jill Boissonnault suggested continuing offering ethtics at the January 2011 CE in order to offer CE for the upcoming licensure renewal in February, 2001

PR committee – plans to do Ironman again, hopefully with a different location (run vs. bike aid station, exclusively for WPTA!)

Jessica Johnson – Membership Committee chair
- membership overall present at meetings increased 2% from 2008 to 2009
- Jess still running the ortho study group, meets monthly at various locations, plans to make meetings more structured in future

Nominating Committee – still in process of forming

UPCOMING WPTA/APTA Events 2010
• Strategic Planning/BOD, May 7-8
• Annual Conference: PT 2010, Boston MA, June 16-19
• SWD EC meeting/social on the square – July 29
• BOD Meeting July 25
• Ethitcs CE August 19th
• SWD EC Meeting September 20
• Fall Conference, Kalahari WI Dells, October 14-16
• SWD Meeting/CE October 25
• National Student Conclave, Miami FL October 29-31

 

April 20, 2010 NWD Meeting Minutes

posted: Apr/23/2010

Meeting Minutes from Northwest District Meeting
Date: 4-20-10

I. Attendees: Alissa Amundson, Kim Bergh, Katie Bury, Jodi Dotseth, Greg Eck, Tony Gould, Jenny Hastreiter, Ashley Iverson, Shani Johnson, Tracie Kautzer, Wes Kurszewski, Beth Leonard, Nicole Marquardt, Darcy Peterson, Chris Schrantz, Steve Seiberling, Becky Staut, Luke Wachemol
a. Hosted at Red Cedar Center for Prevention & Physical Rehabilitation in Menomonie.
II. Presentation
a. " Functional Rehabilitation of Patellofemoral Syndrome”
b. Presented by Chris Schrantz MPT, CSCS
c. Question and answer
III. Business
a. Discussed Explain Pain course
i. Will be held in Eau Claire, June 12-13, 2010
ii. Discounts negotiated and discussed
b. Ethics Course
i. Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire
ii. Fees: $10 for members, $50 for non-members
iii. Discussed possibility of hosting two ethics courses per year/biannual
c. WPTA updates
i. First Executive Committee meeting in new building
ii. Karen Oshman recently passed significant National Executive Director Exam
d. NWD Executive Committee election
i. Chair/Co-chair: No definitive solution
1. Chris Schranz and Shani Johnson each expressed interest; would like more time to contemplate
2. Nicole Marquardt will initiate e-mail voting amongst those present tonight, in two weeks
ii. Secretary: Steve Seiberling
e. Public Relations chair
i. Searching for a volunteer, still. Does not need to be voted on.
f. Treasurer’s Report
i. Savings: $7674.54, Checking: $776.84, Total: $8451.38
g. Continuing education opportunities locally
i. Spinal stabilization for the PTA
1. May 21, 2010 in Eau Claire
2. Hosted by CVTC
ii. Aquatics course
1. Hosted in Stanley, September 17-18, 2010
2. Contact Steve Seiberling for more information
h. Continuing Education Committee
i. Proposal from Nicole Marquardt to routinely bring affordable, high quality CE to Northwest District.
ii. Looking for interested members
i. Next meeting – September 28, 2010
i. Ethics course
IV. Meeting adjourned
 

PT/PTA Clinical Education: Solutions to the Challenges We Face

posted: Mar/25/2010

Friday, April 30, 2010

Course Description:

The WCEC Spring Conference 2010 is designed to be an interactive day identifying solutions to the challenges facing us in  PT and PTA Clinical Education.

Efficient and Effective Utilization of the web based Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI).

The purpose of this session is to provide information on efficient navigation through the online CPI and to discuss optimal  use of this tool in the assessment of PT students, and in the near future, PTA students. Topics covered will include:  considerations for assigning ratings, incorporation of the use of anchor criteria and performance dimensions, providing  meaningful written feedback to the DPT student, understanding the various expectations across the internship continuum  from the initial to the final clinical placement.

 

Optimizing Resources in the Ever Changing World of PT Clinical Education

This session includes interactive discussion focusing on identification of methods to increase effective and efficient use of  clinical education sites and staff. Optimal skills for today’s CI (“Can I really be an effective CI for today’s DPT Student?”)

Today’s PT may question whether s/he can be an effective CI for a DPT student, given the change in the degree that has  occurred over time. This session will identify the many valuable elements that the experienced PT contributes to the clinical experience.

Course Objectives:

Course participants will:

• Understand the correct utilization of the web based CPI for assessment of students.
• Correctly identify entry level performance on the CPI for specific practice environments.
• Understand how to navigate the web based CPI appropriately and efficiently.
• Discuss strategies for optimizing resources in PT/PTA clinical education.
• Identify characteristics and skills of experienced clinicians that support the learning and mentoring of the DPT student

 

 

          Download registration Brochure

Clinical Education Workshops

posted: Oct/14/2009

*APTA Clinical Instructor Education & Credentialing Program

The program [2 days or 15 contact hours] addresses issues of planning and preparing for physical therapy students during their clinical experiences; developing learning experiences and supporting ongoing learning through questioning and effective feedback. Skills of student evaluation are discussed, as well as the identification and management of students with exceptional situations. It includes information regarding student supervisory guidelines as well as legal, regulatory and ADA issues. An “Assessment Center” provides each participant with the opportunity to apply information from the program in simulated situations. 15 contact hours

 

**APTA Advanced Clinical Instructor Education & Credentialing Program

This focus of this new course is best clinical practice and best clinical teaching. This course is open only to physical therapists who have taken the original CI Education and Credentialing Program workshop. It includes 2 days of programming along with some online preparatory work to be applied in class. 16.75 contact hours

 

          Article Here

Updated PT/PTA License Info

posted: Sep/10/2009

PLEASE REVIEW: The attached chart provides the CE hours required and the pro-rated fee to be paid by October 31, 2009. It also provides the pro-rated continuing education hours needed at the new renewal date and the full renewal fee which will be due at that time. Once we get through the two renewal dates on the chart, all professions will be on the full two year cycle again with full fees and full CE hours due every two years from the new renewal date.

 

          Review Document Here

VISION 2020 - Autonomous Practice for Hospital PTs

posted: Mar/23/2009

At Fall Conference in 2004, my interest was piqued when Rob Worth, PT, MS, OCS announced the Executive Committee was forming an autonomous practice task force. Rob was looking for interested parties from all of the different clinical settings to participate on the task force. He said he had representatives from most areas except hospital-based outpatient physical therapy practice. Having worked in a hospital-based outpatient setting for most of my career and not always getting as involved as I should to help the profession, I felt an obligation to participate.

 

          Article Here

WPTA Practice FAQs

posted: Jan/04/2009

The following dialogue includes actual questions presented to the WPTA’s Practice Committee. In all cases, the answers provided offer an opinion from the WPTA, but may not always represent an opinion rendered by the Physical Therapist Affiliated Credentialing Board. In cases where an opinion has been rendered by the PTACB, it will be noted in the answer with an asterisk (*).

 

          Practice FAQs page