Page 28 - OPTA Access Spring 2021

Conference Committee Report Truly Moore, PT, DPT - Chair
With the craziness of 2020 behind us, the Conference Committee is excited to embrace the virtual platform for Transform 2021: OPTA’s Annual Conference. We are pleased to be able to continue to offer outstanding speakers and topics for expanding your evidence-based practices and education.
The Conference Committee is honored to provide several days of education with a variety of time slots to fit everyone’s busy schedules. Transform 2021 will be occurring from Wednesday, April 21 through Saturday, April 24, 2021, on your very own computer/phone/tablet! Visit the OPTA website under Events to view the conference details, registration information, and other conference information. The Conference Committee and OPTA staff are thrilled to be able to step up to this new challenge and look forward to “seeing” everyone there! Stay tuned for upcoming events within the conference as well!
The committee would like to say a very heartfelt THANK YOU to Michelle Losurdo, PT, DPT for
the past three years serving as the Conference Committee Chair. She has done an amazing job
Federal Affairs Liaison Report Preston Stoller, PT, DPT - Chair
and we are very grateful for all of her hard work and service to the committee, OPTA, and the membership. I personally am happy that she has chosen to stay on the committee and continue to volunteer her time. Thank you, Michelle.
As your new conference committee chair, please feel free to reach out to me with any new ideas, questions, and/or concerns. I am blessed and honored to serve
our profession. I look forward to working with the Conference Committee and OPTA staff. Special thanks to the committee members: Dawn Bookshar, Scott Euype, Lucas VanEtten, Jamie O’Brien, Kendra Lucas, Shannon Simpson, Michelle Losurdo, and Becky Parr, as well as our Board Liaison Deb Riczo and our fantastic OPTA partner, Patti Geary.
For more information, contact Truly at:
Tmoore@kingstonhealthcare.com
As an unprecedented year in 2020 rolls into 2021, a mixture of reports continues to highlight our news feed:
28 | March 2021 | OPTA
REIMBURSEMENT CUTS TO PT SERVICES WERE IMPLEMENTED BY CMS AS PLANNED. However, CMS did lessen an initially proposed 9% cut to an estimated 3.6% cut due in part to making all of our voices heard. Multiple bills
are also in various levels of Congress, aiming
to provide a legislative fix to CMS’ unilateral payment cuts. Continued grassroots efforts will be needed to promote this legislation, including contact with your Congressional representatives and participation in virtual rallies. Keep it up!
COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO SPIKE NATIONWIDE WHICH AFFECTS NEARLY
EVERY ASPECT OF OUR DAILY LIVES, BUT IMMUNIZATIONS ARE IN PROCESS AND RELIEF PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE TO
ASSIST CLINICS TO REMAIN AFLOAT IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. Further funding to health care professionals nationwide is also on the way
via proposed relief packages from the Biden administration. Even with a seemingly endless stream of negative news, plenty of reasons exist
for optimism in the new year. Exceptional unity, alignment, and focus are needed in the future and we will be stronger for persevering through the trials of 2020. APTA will continue to need your additional engagement and participation to further our profession’s goals in the upcoming year. Here’s to our work contributing to more highs in 2021. Join us.
For more information, contact Preston at:
preston.stoller@osumc.edu