Page 24 - OPTA Access Spring 2017

including aquatics, sports, and orthopedics to name a few The several hours I spent in the exhibit hall allowed me to interact and gain valuable information toward my path of becoming a physical therapist Along with the multitude of business cards, yers, handouts, and other items I received from each booth, I was able to ease my fears of networking with strangers Upon graduation, the networking, and socializing skills I gained at NSC will be valuable in seeking out an employer
Before my arrival in Miami, I challenged myself to
step outside my comfort zone, form new relationships, and immerse myself in activities outside the conference center NSC is known for the opportunity to build new relationships with other physical therapy students I had set a goal of meeting ten new people and much to my surprise, I tripled that and met thirty new friends by the end of the weekend With each new individual I met, I realized we all had one thing in common, and that was our love for the eld of physical therapy Of course, no trip to Miami would be complete without exploring the city and enjoying food and drinks with my future colleagues On Thursday evening,
I attended PT pub night at the American Social Bar and Kitchen where I met students from Florida, Washington, and Ohio While raising money for the Foundation of Physical Therapy, we shared stories about ourselves, PT school, and our future goals as clinicians Finally, on Friday night, I experienced the exciting nightlife of Miami at PT- PAC late night event at the Blue Martini Lounge Dancing, singing, laughing, and enjoying the Miami cocktail special with my new PT friends was the highlight of the evening Being surrounded by those who have a drive for advancing our profession, a passion for helping clients, and strive
for excellence, made my rst national student conclave experience memorable, knowing I gained many lifelong colleagues and friends
Sometimes opening an unexpected email can lead to an incredible new adventure Attending the National Student Conclave was one of the best decisions I have made Through this experience, I stepped outside my comfort zone and grew, both as a physical therapy student and a person, through the educational sessions, networking, and forming new peer relationships during social activities NSC further solidi ed my passion for physical therapy and involvement in the professional organization I am excited to attend the conference next year in Portland, Oregon
APTA State Policy & Payment Forum Recap
Colton Rhinebolt, SPT –University of Toledo
The 2016 State Policy and Payment Forum was an excellent opportunity to learn about and take part in the APTA’s efforts to improve and enhance our profession As physical therapy students, we learn about the policies and payment models that exist and how they affect us as
pract itioners, but we have little exposure to the processes that create them The Policy and Payment Forum provides a summary of recent policy and payment changes, and it also helps to lay the foundation for future change at both the state and national level It is also a great time and place to share ideas and celebrate recent achievements by state chapters and individuals
The 2016 Forum was held at the Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. The rst day started with breakfast and coffee and a chance to meet and greet other members of the APTA before the presentations started
The Ohio Chapter had a table for everyone to sit, and
after enjoying some time getting familiar with everyone,
the presentations began Throughout the day, there were presentations on topics ranging from direct access by
state to reimbursement by Workers’ Compensation The
rst topic, direct access, was discussed in a broad manner since every state has slightly different policies. All fty states now have some form of direct access to physical therapy services; and this is a huge achievement for physical therapists everywhere The next step for the APTA is to
deal with barriers to direct access These barriers include dealing with limits on time and number of visits set by insurance companies as well as the type of conditions and patient populations that can be seen through direct access There was also a discussion about what the APTA and state chapters have done to combat the push back from other professions regarding direct access to PT
One of the major themes, which was covered in
some way during several different presentations, was a physical therapist’s scope of practice and how the scope of practice evolves and expands as new treatment methods and modalities arise Every state has a different practice act that outlines what a physical therapist can and cannot do These practice acts are often vague and indirect,
and it is not conclusive whether a physical therapist
can or cannot perform certain treatments Some of the topics covered included dry needling, manual therapy
and spinal manipulation, ordering diagnostic imaging,
and management of youth concussions Dry needling,
for example, is included in the physical therapy scope of practice in certain states In other states, it is prohibited
by a physical therapist, and sometimes it is not mentioned at all For each of these topics, the forum discussed what steps could be taken to change the practice act and how to advocate for the physical therapy profession
The second major theme was reimbursement, which
is an enormous topic for every health profession as our nation’s payment systems are constantly being revised There were many speakers that discussed reimbursement including both members of the APTA and guest speakers who specialize in the area We discussed value-based reimbursement models and how these models improve outcomes for physical therapists and other health professionals We also discussed accurate and effective documentation to ensure timely payment by third party payers Every reimbursement model has pros and cons, and
24 | March 2017 | OPTA