Page 4 - OPTA Volume 48

A Note from the Executive Director Victoria Gresh, CAE
THE SAME, BUT DIFFERENT
February 2020 seems so long ago. It’s the last “normal” work month that I clearly recall: flying to Denver to attend APTA CSM, sitting at the “Ohio table” with my members, and planning for a big APTA Centennial Celebration in 2021 with a special OPTA celebration to commemorate Founder’s Day . I grabbed a paperback in the Denver airport for the trip home, and I remember being on the plane thinking about that virus that was in the news that seemed so far away .
4 | September 2020 | OPTA
How quickly things change .
In the span of weeks, life as we knew it was
altered dramatically . COVID-19 forced us to pivot significantly—but anyone in the association business knows that the ability to adapt and prioritize are essential elements for success . It was never “what are we going to do?” it was, “how are we going to do it?”
Where did the crisis take us? Let’s go on a journey .
First stop...
Cancellation of Transform 2020 . That was tough . Once the governor restricted large gatherings, we made the difficult decision to cancel our annual conference for the health and safety of all our members . Though at the time, we were not sure how long the order would be in place, in hindsight, it makes complete sense . We then enhanced our online offerings through our popular Lunch & Learn Webinar Series to expand access to continuing education opportunities for our members .
Next came...
Telehealth . Just like that, telehealth became
critical . Though OPTA has been advocating for the implementation of reimbursable telehealth policies for quite some time, it seems the legislative and regulatory bodies finally realized its value.
Which leads to...
Payment policy/reimbursement updates and Telehealth Payer Information Spreadsheet . The rapid implementation of telehealth policies by public and private payers necessitated the need for constant member updates, which continue to this day on the Payment Policy page on the OPTA website . A truly valuable resource for OPTA members!
Speaking of member value, we launched...
Outside the Boundaries Series. That was our first real voyage into the virtual unknown, with Dr . Stephanie Kelley as our inaugural presenter on “PT Practice Pivot” streamed via Facebook Live! The response to this new series, which focuses on content geared
towards today’s innovative and “non-traditional” PT professional, has been outstanding, and we look forward to bringing you more original offerings to complement this initiative .
Feeling supremely confident, we planned our...
Virtual Membership Meeting . Sure, we knew how to use Zoom, but did we KNOW how to use Zoom? We learned quickly, adding a few bells and whistles to create the best experience for OPTA members . We also streamed it via Facebook Live (we’re pros now), so no matter where you were, you could catch us live or later—and virtually meet all the OPTA candidates for office!
Suddenly, things were happening, specifically...
SB 272 (PT Compact legislation) and HB 547 (Fair Co-pay bill) . Just like that, when business was slowly starting to resume at the Statehouse, our two bills were scheduled . Though we had our sponsor hearing on SB 272 just prior to the shutdown, we were uncertain where our legislative journey would take us . We pivoted quickly, and OPTA members Dr . Anthony DiFilippo and Dr. Susan Appling testified in support of our bills, which are still making their way through the legislative process .
We continued dialogue with legislators through our...
Three Virtual PACcy Hours . Held via Zoom, which we now refer to as a “cozy virtual setting,” OPTA members had the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of lawmakers . Our varied discussion topics ranged from telehealth and PT Compact privileges to personal legislative philosophies and diversity and inclusion . Thanks to everyone who participated!
Now plan to participate in...
LEAP: Fall 2020 . Though we’re still not ready to meet again in-person, we’re still ready to meet! We’ve embraced the new technology frontier through an expansive platform and are committed to providing you with exceptional LEAP Talks, platform lectures, and poster presentations focused on the theme of