Page 11 - OPTA Access September 2017 Volume 45, Issue 2

• Telemedicine – The House had added a provision that mandated coverage of telemedicine in the same matter face to face services are covered However, the Senate removed that provision and it was not included in the conference report
HB 131: Physical Therapists Practice Act Legislation Given Legislative Hearings
Legislation to update the practice act for physical therapists was introduced by Representative Bill Reineke (R – Tif n) and Representative Theresa Gavarone (R – Bowling Green) House Bill 131 has been assigned to the House Health and Aging Committee Representative Gavarone, joint sponsor of this legislation, serves as the Health and Aging committee Vice Chairwoman House Bill 131 would do two important things for the practice of Physical Therapy:
1) Clarify that “physical therapy” includes determining a diagnosis in order to treat a person’s physical impairments, functional limitations, and physical disabilities; determining a prognosis; and determining a plan of therapeutic intervention, and
2) Add that physical therapy includes ordering tests such as diagnostic imaging and studies that are performed and interpreted by other licensed health care professionals
An interested party meeting was held on the bill on May 16, 2017 Attending the meeting on OPTA’s behalf was: Victoria Gresh, Rob Dunham, John DeWitt, Amanda Sines and Mikayla Pollitt. Also attending were representatives from the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA), the Ohio Orthopaetic Society (OOS), the Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA), the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association (OOTA), and the bill sponsors
Several issues in the bill were debated at length and several possible solutions and compromises were discussed At the conclusion of the meeting, all groups were asked to put their positions in writing to the topics discussed in the meeting
Based a letter from the OSMA and the OOA, several items have been agreed to However, OPTA has been told the OOS does not want to agree to any changes to the bill
Throughout May and June there were three hearings on HB 131 before the House Health Committee
• Sponsor testimony was given by Representatives Reineke and Gavarone on May 10, 2017;
• A proponent hearing was held on May 24, 2017 Testifying in favor of the bill on behalf of OPTA
were Alan Howell and Dr. John DeWitt. Additionally, James Lee with the OTPTAT Board submitted written proponent testimony
• An opponent hearing was held on June 21, 2017. Testifying against the bill were Drs Christopher Kaeding and Jonathan Feibel representing the Ohio Orthopaedic Society and Dr. Jason Dapore
representing the Ohio Osteopathic Association Additionally, written opponent testimony was submitted by the Ohio Foot and Ankle Association, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Sports Medicine Center
During the legislative summer break, interested parties have submitted additional comments to the bill sponsors The OSMA remains determined that OPTA is seeking to make a medical diagnosis. OPTA is working with bill sponsors to draft the compromised substitute language for consideration in the fall
PTs Can Begin Enrolling For MSP
The OPTA has been working for many months on the roll out of the enrollment process in the ORP system for providers participating the Medicaid School Program At the end of 2016 legislation was enacted to specify that for the purposes of the Medicaid School Program, physical therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists and speech language pathologists are considered “practitioners of the healing arts” and can refer for their own services Before the legislation was passed, Medicaid and CMS had contended that all related services provided for the Medicaid School program would need to be accompanied by a referral from a physician
Now that the legislation has been enacted and the rules have become effective, PTs and other providers can begin enrolling in the Medicaid system Medicaid has issued a guidance document to assist providers in enrolling This document is in response to some confusion in navigating the system Some questions in the portal do not apply to PTs and other providers. Providers were looking for direction to ensure they were not inadvertently answering questions inappropriately OPTA has a copy of the guidance document that can be provided upon request
For more information, contact Amanda or Mikayla at: amanda@gov-advantage com and mikayla@gov-advantage.com
(contintued page 9 – Additional Steps to PT Practice Autonomy)
Association) has formed to assist with these types of processes in the future Applicants are still advised to utilize disclaimer statements in the comment box near the end of the application to note areas where the application and their practice mechanism do not blend together well
The Ohio Department of Medicaid has issued “Step by Step Instructions” that were developed in conjunction with stakeholder group. The OPTA is hopeful that their involvement in this process will continue to open doors and nurture ongoing autonomy in PT practice
Cheryl VanHoose, PT, MHS serves as the OT/PT Director at Miami Valley Regional Center-Montgomery County ESC in Dayton, Ohio.
Editor’s Note: The OPTA would like to thank Cheryl VanHoose for extensive work on the MSP issue.
OPTA | September 2017 | 11
Legislative & Payment Policy Report