Page 17 - OPTA Access Spring 2019

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS RECAP
APTA State Policy and Payment Forum Recap Lauren MacNab, SPT – University of Dayton
I had a wonderful educational opportunity from the Ohio Physical Therapy Association (OPTA) to attend the APTA State Policy and Payment Forum in Kansas City, Missouri . A quick biography about me: my name is Lauren MacNab, and I am a third-year Doctor
of Physical Therapy student at the University of Dayton (UD) . Since this is my last year as a student physical therapist and OPTA representative for UD, I was eager to participate in this learning opportunity to enhance my knowledge on the state policy and government aspect of physical therapy throughout the country .
One forum topic that I thought was most relatable to the state of the Ohio that was discussed was the combat of the opioid epidemic and how physical therapy is now a feasible part of the solution . There is enough information about the addiction of opioids and pain is typically at the front end of the discussion in the clinic . However, some health professionals have been avoiding the discussion of prevention . As physical therapists, we should be conversing with the pharmacological association in the management of medications, opioids, and explain our role in physical therapy . In July of 2018, Ohio recently incorporated the collaboration of physical therapists and spine medicine physicians at five different sites across
the state . The teams meet one day a week, discussing the various options that the patient can pursue before surgical intervention . The goal is to target subacute patients to prevent chronic conditions, however, this method has been successful for chronic patients as well . Overall, I learned that we need to adopt a psychosocial model around the country and inform patients about physical therapy as a direct referral, because we have the ability to help manage pain and control the vicious cycle of opioid addiction .
The USA spends $3 .3 trillion a year on healthcare, with approximately $10,000 a year for each person . That being said, our country spends the most on healthcare, yet we have the sickest population in the world . The #1 death noted in 2018
is cardiovascular disease and non-communicable diseases, which can be largely preventable . I was able to listen to several speakers talk about the importance of population health and interrelated factors that influence the health
over the life course . As physical therapists, we need to be focusing our plan of care using a holistic approach; this includes treatment of the whole person to assist with these noncommunicable diseases . As physical therapists, we need
to address other factors that may be playing into the patient’s physical movements . Physical therapists have knowledge in pathology and physiology; we have the ability to advocate prevention, health, and well-being with various topics: physical activity, nutrition/weight management, sleep, health, stress management, and tobacco cessation . To address this situation, the APTA recommended advocating and recognizing the value of a PT or PTA to society by improving our education model with an emphasis on holistic care, identifying practice limits, and advocating for a new CPT code (ex . lifestyle coaching .)
Another topic that was discussed at the forum that I was not well aware of was the Merit Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) . I learned that as of January of 2019, the system is going to primarily affect Medicare Part B, where they are shifting to
a value-based payment . When it comes to working within the physical therapy profession, MIPS has the ability to track every single provider in the program . When bills are submitted, MIPS will be tracked via tax number and the physical therapist’s
NPI number in the private practice billing, whereas outpatient hospital departments are billed technically and not as individual providers . Not everyone in private practice will be involved in MIPS . If clinics have a low volume threshold, they have to meet all the criteria for a smaller clinic that does not see a lot of Medicare patients . Since Medicare is trying to drive physical therapists into electronic medical recording, it is imperative for us to show our value as health care professionals with medical record documentation on functional outcomes .
Overall, it was a rewarding learning opportunity to partake in
the APTA State and Policy Forum . I was able to converse with our OPTA State Affairs Chair Alan Howell, and Vice President Christine Schulte, about the various topics that were discussed during the forum and how it impacted our state . Also, we collaborated with other state representatives about the topics and learned other methods, policies and laws they have implemented to enhance the physical therapy profession within their state . I would like to give many thanks to the OPTA for acknowledging the importance for students to attend these conferences about state and policy regulation since students are part of the future to enhance the physical therapy profession and better our patients .
(left) Student Scholarship Winner, Lauren MacNab with OPTA State Affairs Chair, Alan Howell, PT, ATC and OPTA Vice President, Christine Schulte, PT, MBA