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COMMITTEE & SIG REPORTS
Federal Affairs Liaison Report David Wessells, PT - Chair
As we approach Congress’ August recess, the APTA government affairs team has been working hard to advocate for our profession . We have worked to push our House and Senate bills adding PTs to the National Health Service Corps loan repayment program, including hosting a group of Congressmen/women and Senators to help explain the PT’s importance in rural communities, particularly our ability to address chronic pain preventatively and reduce reliance on opioid medication. We continue to fight for expanding coverage for PT in telehealth through the Connect Act, addressing physician self-referral, reducing administrative burdens, protecting PT as an essential health benefit, and advocating for sustainable payment systems for physical therapy, including prevention of the 85% payment rule for physical therapist assistants.
Recently we also partnered with OPTA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to introduce the Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act to increase grant funding for individuals
who are from underrepresented backgrounds, including students from racial and ethnic minorities, in the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and audiology . APTA is also participating in a rural health taskforce to address healthcare in these underserved communities . Lastly, APTA continues to advocate and educate across a broad spectrum of payment policy issues, including home health, skilled nursing, worker’s compensation and
other outpatient services . They continue to be at the table for these difficult conversations with commercial and government payers . Without
their efforts, PTs would not have any say in how payment systems are implemented .
Sports SIG Report Jeffrey Swiers, PT, DPT, OCS, C-OMPT - Chair
While the team in DC is working hard, we need
your help . Legislators want to hear from their own constituents that live and work in their districts .
We need more “key contacts” in Ohio to develop relationships with their representatives at the district level, invite them to visit your workplace, meet with them at their district office, and educate them how physical therapists are helping their constituents every day . If you are interested in participating in this way, please email me at address below .
We have so much more to fight for in 2019 and APTA will continue to fight for bipartisan legislation that benefits patients, families, and therapists even in
the face of a divided government . I look forward to continuing to serve you in this effort this year . Come and join me!
For more information, contact David at:
david.wessells@nationwidechildrens.org
We hope everyone has been enjoying the summer so far! The Sports SIG continues to grow and posts weekly articles from multiple sources such as JOSPT, Sports Health, IJSPT, BJSM, and other sports-specific sites . Moving forward, we would like to encourage comments and discussion on these weekly articles and to facilitate a community of students, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants . We are always looking for suggestions for the Sports SIG . Please let us know!
Please check out our Facebook page: Ohio Physical Therapy Association: Sports SIG for continued updates and please stop by and “Like” the page to continue to obtain new and updated information regarding Sports Physical Therapy from the OPTA .
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For more information, contact Jeff at: jswiers11@gmail.com