I hope you all have taken a few minutes to review the new website created to provide you with accurate and timely information from the VPTA. Many thanks to our communication committee and Executive Management for the work that it took to bring us such a great tool. As part of the website, the VPTA now offers a new service called CEU locker. To fully utilize the CEU locker you will need to register which only takes a couple of minutes to do. Once you are registered you can use this area of the website to hold all of the necessary information for any credentialed CEU course! There is also a section for those looking to be able to provide CEU’s within the state. Check it out!

All the best,

Josh

As we approach the 2018 legislative session, I wanted to update you on the advocacy strategy for this year.

This coming year is different for several reasons.  First, I will be stepping into Amber Walters’ role as state legislative chair.  Amber has graciously shown me the ropes over the past few years, and she will continue to assist.  I will work hard to meet the high bar she has set for the position. 

We have great news! Effective December 18, 2017, Humana no longer require preauthorization for outpatient physical, speech and occupational therapy services for patients with commercial and Medicare Advantage (MA) coverage. For additional details, visit Humana.com.

As you all know, Congress recessed on December 22 without acting on the bipartisan, bicameral agreement for a permanent fix to Medicare therapy cap. They also did not enact a temporary patch or extension of the current exceptions process. Thus, a hard cap of $2,010 on outpatient therapy services (PT/SLP combined) will be applied beginning on January 1, 2018. A separate hard cap of $2,010 will be applied to outpatient OT services. It should be noted that the hard cap will not apply to hospital outpatient clinics (OPs). Hospital OPs were not originally included under the therapy cap when it was first enacted as part of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) in 1997. Hospital OPs were subsequently added to the cap exceptions process in 2012. However with the expiration of the exceptions process on December 31, 2017, the requirement for hospital OP to participate in the therapy cap exceptions process also expires.

By now, most physical therapists (PTs) have heard the news: the final 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) released in early November by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) included some significant variations from the PFS proposed in July. Instead of finalizing CPT code values that were the same as—and occasionally larger than—current values, CMS opted to offer up a more complicated combination of cuts and increases that could affect PTs in different ways, depending on their case-mix and billing patterns.

When: Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Where: PIVOT Physical Therapy at Oyster Point (Newport News)

Time: 6:30 pm Refreshments provided by sponsor, raffle items provided by district
7:00 pm Brief business meeting and special presentation

*Pain Neuroscience and Implications for PT*

Blue Ridge District hosted a well-attended course for their November membership meeting at Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences. The course, Upper Extremity Anatomy: a Cadaver Review for Clinicians was taught by Keith Bishop, PT, PhD, ATC, a professor at Mary Baldwin University for the physical therapy program. There were nearly 50 clinicians and students in attendance. Clinicians were led through review of previously dissected cadavers, touching on topics such as muscle innervation, attachment site, and blood vessel and nerve pathways through the upper extremity. And for fun attendants also got to observe some of the other fascinating anatomical and surgical finds in the present cadavers in other parts of the body! Each clinician was granted 1.5 type I contact hours for the meeting.

We are looking forward to our February meeting which will be held at a local brewery owned by a Blue Ridge District PT! We look forward to seeing everyone on February 8th at 630PM at Winchester Brew Works in Winchester, VA.

The Central District is currently seeking a secretary to serve on their Board.  Primary responsibilities include attending the periodic Board meetings and taking the minutes (notes) at the meetings.  No prior experience needed!  This is a great opportunity to enhance your resume and give back to the association!  If you are interested in this position, please email vpta@apta.org.

Healio
Researchers found wide variation in the physical therapy protocols surgeons posted online for patients who have undergone hip arthroscopy.

K5News
Visiting a physical therapist and finding the right program can help when dealing with back pain.

WBUR
Practicing good posture can help to avoid injury, according to a physical therapist, who offers tips on improving it.