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Bill
Recent Changes to the Laws
Governing Physical Therapy in
Information for Licensed
Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants
A Message From:
Rachel Amidon, PT, Christina Curran, PT, Brian
D’Orazio, PT, Kash Eagleton, PT, Melissa Eagleton, PT, Barbara Ehman,
PT, Gayle Garnett, PT, Brian Hoke, PT, Ginger Houck, PT, Pat Huston, PT,
Scott Hyldahl, PT, Samuel Jamison, PT, Bill Melchione, PT, Judy Jenkins, PT,
Marshall Rennie, PT, Beth Rennie, PT, Bill Whiteford, PT, Colleen Whiteford,
PT, Mary Wooten, PT, Heidi Zander, PT
What
are some of the privileges and limitations recently passed by the
PT’s must obtain a certificate of authority to
evaluate and treat patients without referral. This
certification will separate how different therapists are allowed to practice,
and require additional expense to Virginia Physical Therapists in the form of
fees and continuing education.
The criteria for this certification will be decided by three
members of the VPTA and three physicians from the Medical Society of Virginia.
After 7 years of an independent PT Board, we
are again putting our profession under further "referral and
direction" constraints of physicians.
Once a PT has gone through all of the
required certification, limitations
still apply for treatment without referral:
- You
may NOT treat a patient if they are already under the care of a
physician/referring practitioner for the problem. The patient must attest to this in writing.
- At
the time of evaluation, the patient must
identify a physician/referring practitioner that they will see
if care is desired beyond the 14 day limit and they must release
their information to be sent to that provider.
- You must send your evaluation to
the designated provider within 3
days.
- Physical
therapy treatment without referral cannot
exceed a period of 14 business days.
- A
PT may not evaluate and treat a patient without referral if
they were evaluated within the previous 3 months
What
is wrong with this picture?
To get support of the
Virginia Orthopaedic Society and the Medical Society of Virginia, the VPTA
Board of Directors made binding promises to these physician organizations that for
five years the VPTA WILL NOT:
Introduce any legislation that prohibits physician ownership of physical
therapy
Introduce any legislation expanding the
scope of practice of physical therapy
The political climate as it relates to referral for
profit is shifting, and public opinion on conflict of interest is generally
negative. The physicians’ groups wanted assurances we would not bring
this into the legislature for debate and discussion (and hence, the
newspapers). Our ability to bring forth any legislation to address this
problem was negotiated away for “new freedoms” for PT that appear
to be crafted with protection of the physicians’ interest first and
foremost. While we gained treatment subject to the conditions noted, the
physicians gained further advantage and control of Physical Therapy in
The recent action of the VPTA Board has profoundly
affected the practice of EVERY PT and PTA in the
The actions of the Virginia Chapter are in direct
opposition to the directive of the APTA House of Delegates Resolution to seek
legislative prohibition of physician ownership of physical therapy services
(RC 06-02-24-48).
Now
what?
Every
PT and PTA should take the time to read the specifics of the new physical
therapy practice act. It is our opinion that VPTA/ APTA communications have
only highlighted those aspects which cast the changes in a positive light,
neglecting to mention new restrictions on practice. The regulations can be
accessed at the following link: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+SB1305ER
If you read the full legislation and AGREE the new law is a
worthwhile and less confusing improvement and you agree with the way this was
handled by the VPTA, let us know.
If you DO NOT AGREE with the way this was handled, and would
have preferred alternative actions, make your feelings known to the VPTA Board
of Directors. You may do so individually, AND you may join us in conveying the
following message at the next meeting of the Board:
- The VPTA failed to properly represent
the membership in crafting the recent legislation and
negotiating with physician’s groups
- It is in the best interest of the
membership to require the VPTA to survey its members and engage in
meaningful discussion to assure that the majority support any legislation
that alters the laws governing Physical Therapy practice in
Virginia
We encourage all PTs and PTAs in
Let your voice be heard!
- Send
us your opinion via fax, e-mail, or mail and/or
- Attend
the Issues Forum on 4/13 or the Board of Directors meeting on 4/15 at the
VPTA Annual Retreat (details at www.vpta.org).
IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT THE VPTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS PROVIDED FEEDBACK ON THEIR ROLE
IN THE RECENT LEGISLATIVE CHANGES
Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants, who
would like to express their opinion about the manner in which the VPTA advanced
recent PT legislation, may do so by sending an e-mail to: united4achange@...
PTs and PTAs may also send their opinions on this topic by
completing the following:
========================================================================
I am a ___ Physical Therapist ___ Physical Therapist
Assistant
and it is my opinion that the VPTA acted ___
appropriately ___ inappropriately
in the recent introduction and advancement of laws changing
the practice of physical therapy in
that future VPTA actions which alter the Virginia PT /PTA
practice act should be more fully disclosed to the membership (including
dissenting opinions), and the VPTA should establish specific guidelines for
member notification and majority approval when advocating such changes.
Additional comments:
___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Name: _____________________________
City: _______________________________
You can fax this by 4/4 to: (540)
901-8773 (Attn: Colleen Whiteford)
You may also mail this to:
Send Email