Guest guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 I have been asked to post this for a member of PTManager who does not wish to be identified ***************************** Dear Group, I am a private practice physical therapist. I am disappointed to hear that so many private practice owners and so many therapists are advocating for a decrease in PT copays. I have been through many years of schooling and provide a *specialty* service. AT's, MD's, DO's and/or Chiro's do not have my education or my skill level in providing care. I take great pride in the care I provide and believe that I should be charging a *specialist co-pay*. First, we need to value ourselves....then only can we be valued by others. PT and CHT in private practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Dear colleague, Let me be one of the first to respectfully disagree with you. First of all it is well known that the current co-pay system for PT was developed simply as a way for insurances to limit the number of PT visits and has nothing to do with recognizing PT's as specialists. Second, I cannot compare myself to any specialist that may see a client once a week or once a month. We are unique specialists that generally need to see a client for a number of treatments per week. Research continues to grow to show that in some cases we are have to cut people short on treatments and they are suffering for it (access long term follow up studies on TKA which show a long term strength deficit in the operated knee). So in reality, the rationing of care that is being caused by co-pays (as patients self-limit their treatment) is reducing the value I have because I cannot complete research based treatment. We are not asking that co-pays go away, just reflect the realities of PT practice and reflect a true co-pay, where the patient shares the commitment versus a burden that causes people to self limit treatment. The recently passed legislation to limit co-pays in Kentucky is a good example of returning things to a true co-pay, reflective of the realities of our outpatient practice. Third, we all face the reality that we can't provide any value to anyone if we can't stay in business. The excessive co-pays are causing a significant reduction in the number of visits and pushing many clinics, mine included, to the brink of financial ruin. So the high co-pays not only limit us from doing research based treatment but are hurting our ability to have a viable business as well. I will reiterate that we cannot provide value if we cannot stay in business and that is what is happening across the country. Fourth, I personally have never felt my value was tied to what I am reimbursed. Do I fight for better reimbursement? You bet. Do I need it to stay in business? Of course. But how much I receive does not affect my sense of value. My value comes from successful outcomes in my practice, happy and satisfied patients, being part of the community and providing support to the overall health and wellness of the community. I want my business to succeed because I want to be able to continue that which I find valuable to the community and that which I am proud of. I couldn't disagree with you more about high co-pays. I feel they are a major threat to our profession and it is correct of us to fight for legislation to change back to a co-pay that does what it is supposed to do (have the patient invested in their care) and not one where patients self-limit or even refuse reasonable and necessary care. Tom Howell, P.T., M.P.T. Howell Physical Therapy Eagle, ID thowell@... This email and any files transmitted with it may contain PRIVILEGED or CONFIDENTIAL information and may be read or used only by the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of the email or any of its attachments, please be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing or copying of this email or any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately purge it and all attachments and notify the sender by reply email. _____ From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of Kovacek Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 1:01 PM To: PTManager Subject: Co-Pays I have been asked to post this for a member of PTManager who does not wish to be identified ***************************** Dear Group, I am a private practice physical therapist. I am disappointed to hear that so many private practice owners and so many therapists are advocating for a decrease in PT copays. I have been through many years of schooling and provide a *specialty* service. AT's, MD's, DO's and/or Chiro's do not have my education or my skill level in providing care. I take great pride in the care I provide and believe that I should be charging a *specialist co-pay*. First, we need to value ourselves....then only can we be valued by others. PT and CHT in private practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Dear colleague, Let me be one of the first to respectfully disagree with you. First of all it is well known that the current co-pay system for PT was developed simply as a way for insurances to limit the number of PT visits and has nothing to do with recognizing PT's as specialists. Second, I cannot compare myself to any specialist that may see a client once a week or once a month. We are unique specialists that generally need to see a client for a number of treatments per week. Research continues to grow to show that in some cases we are have to cut people short on treatments and they are suffering for it (access long term follow up studies on TKA which show a long term strength deficit in the operated knee). So in reality, the rationing of care that is being caused by co-pays (as patients self-limit their treatment) is reducing the value I have because I cannot complete research based treatment. We are not asking that co-pays go away, just reflect the realities of PT practice and reflect a true co-pay, where the patient shares the commitment versus a burden that causes people to self limit treatment. The recently passed legislation to limit co-pays in Kentucky is a good example of returning things to a true co-pay, reflective of the realities of our outpatient practice. Third, we all face the reality that we can't provide any value to anyone if we can't stay in business. The excessive co-pays are causing a significant reduction in the number of visits and pushing many clinics, mine included, to the brink of financial ruin. So the high co-pays not only limit us from doing research based treatment but are hurting our ability to have a viable business as well. I will reiterate that we cannot provide value if we cannot stay in business and that is what is happening across the country. Fourth, I personally have never felt my value was tied to what I am reimbursed. Do I fight for better reimbursement? You bet. Do I need it to stay in business? Of course. But how much I receive does not affect my sense of value. My value comes from successful outcomes in my practice, happy and satisfied patients, being part of the community and providing support to the overall health and wellness of the community. I want my business to succeed because I want to be able to continue that which I find valuable to the community and that which I am proud of. I couldn't disagree with you more about high co-pays. I feel they are a major threat to our profession and it is correct of us to fight for legislation to change back to a co-pay that does what it is supposed to do (have the patient invested in their care) and not one where patients self-limit or even refuse reasonable and necessary care. Tom Howell, P.T., M.P.T. Howell Physical Therapy Eagle, ID thowell@... This email and any files transmitted with it may contain PRIVILEGED or CONFIDENTIAL information and may be read or used only by the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of the email or any of its attachments, please be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing or copying of this email or any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately purge it and all attachments and notify the sender by reply email. _____ From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of Kovacek Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 1:01 PM To: PTManager Subject: Co-Pays I have been asked to post this for a member of PTManager who does not wish to be identified ***************************** Dear Group, I am a private practice physical therapist. I am disappointed to hear that so many private practice owners and so many therapists are advocating for a decrease in PT copays. I have been through many years of schooling and provide a *specialty* service. AT's, MD's, DO's and/or Chiro's do not have my education or my skill level in providing care. I take great pride in the care I provide and believe that I should be charging a *specialist co-pay*. First, we need to value ourselves....then only can we be valued by others. PT and CHT in private practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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