Re: Fwd: RE: [handtherapists] upcoming RC concerning use of supportive personnel--need input

[Guest guest]

As President of the Section on Health Policy and Administration (HPA), I feel

this thread that was shared does not accurately reflect all the available

information to make an informed decision. It is also bias one way in lack of

support. On the HPA list serv, we probably received over 60 posts discussing

this motion and it was a great discussion that continues today with pros and

cons for both sides of the motion. I would encourage members of APTA to review

the motion and contact your state delegation if you have questions or input.

Rick Gawenda, PT

President

Section on Health Policy & Administration

APTA

From: Jansen, Caroline & lt;cjansen@... & gt;

Subject: RE: [handtherapists] upcoming RC concerning use of supportive

personnel--need input

To: " handtherapists "

& lt;handtherapists & gt;

Date: Monday, May 30, 2011, 12:19 PM

I agree with .

We already have a problem that more and more our type of care is

identified with OT, rather than with PT & OT,

Caroline

________________________________

From: handtherapists [handtherapists ]

On Behalf Of Schiliro [schiliroptcht@...]

Sent: Monday, May 30, 2011 5:54 AM

To: handtherapists

Subject: RE: [handtherapists] upcoming RC concerning use of supportive

personnel--need input

I agree with Kay. We have given up too much already. Massage to

massage therapist. The gym, to AT's. On and on. Hire a PTA. they

are trained, professionals who support PT as a profession as well as

the APTA.Â

To: handtherapists

From: kaydellaz@...

Date: Sat, 28 May 2011 22:36:32 -0700

Subject: Re: [handtherapists] upcoming RC concerning use of supportive

personnel--need input

I believe we should stay with the current position. We may find

ourselves giving up too much control. I have had physicians who have

technicians in their offices cause a patient to develop RSD--no PT in

attendance. If we are so busy and have technicians doing more and

reimbursment goes down, what is the gain. The therapist will have to do

more evaluations to generate a higher volume of patients for the same

revenue. Maybe offices should hire more therapists or PTA.

Kay Ahern PT, CHT

**************************************************

Kay Ahern

kaydellaz@...

From: Carla Cleary & lt;CCleary@... & gt;

To: handtherapists

Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2011 9:03 AM

Subject: [handtherapists] upcoming RC concerning use of supportive

personnel--need input

One of the RCs proposed by the Private Practice Section up for

consideration next week at the House of Delegates concerns the use of

supportive personnel. Currently, APTA documents state, " Physical

therapist assistants, under the direction and supervision of the

physical therapist, are the only individuals who assist in the

provision of selected physical therapy interventions.

The Private Practice RC states " That the American Physical Therapy

Association recognizes and supports physical therapists’ abilities to

utilize the most appropriate support personnel when directing and

supervising selected aspects of physical therapy intervention,

consistent with jurisdictional law. "

Basically, this RC would say that the APTA thinks it is fine for PTs to

designate care to PT aides, athletic trainers, kinesoologists, exercise

physiologists, etc.

I would like to know what our Section member's opinion is on this

issue. Should we as a Section support or stand against this RC? Many

of our members run or work in private practices ( and other areas) in

which it would be helpfull to designate to other personnel because of

time, cost and availability issues.

A few reasons not to vote for this were outlined in the Background

paper developed by APTA national.

1. " If APTA advocated for wider discretion in use of aides or other

qualified individuals beyond the PTA, it is likely that the RBRVS

system would require a re-evaluation of the codes commonly utilized by

PTs. If the outcome of the re-evaluation would increase the use of the

aide, it would decrease the use of the higher valued PTA, and thus

reduce the reimbursement for these commonly delivered services.

2. " CMS now requires that physicians only delegate physical therapy

" incident-to " their professionals services to physicians, nurse

practitioners and physician assistants authorized under state law and

to PTs that graduate from an accredited PT education program. " Concern

is that, " If APTA changed its position to allow other care extenders to

provide these services, physician and care extender organizations would

also argue that the regulations should be amended to allow physicians

to use other care extenders to provide physical therapy services in

their offices. "

Please let me know your thoughts by June 2. Thanks!

Carla Cleary, PT, DPT, CHT

President of the Hand Rehabilitation Section

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