The last sentance of the paragraph after "Here's the scoop on Hb1112" should
read..."avioding delays and added expense" NOT "adding expense

>From: terry <taeng@...>
>Date: Tue Jan 24 05:44:46 CST 2006
>To: vpta@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [vpta-listserv] Critical week to call your legislators!

>Our bills are going before the Health Sub Committe Mon Jan 29th
>
>We need a surge of calls, letters, and emails to get to legislators TODAY AND
EVERY DAY THE REST OF THIS WEEK ASKING THEM TO SUPPORT HOUSE BILLS 1112 (Direct
Access)
>
>Go to http://legis.state.va.us the Virginia GeneralAssembly web page for
legislator contact information.
>
>We especially need individuals who have one of the the legislators who make up
the Health sub committee to call. They include: Del Janis, Del Spirull, Del
Algie Howell, Del Moran, Del OBannon, Del Purkey, and Del Welch
>
>If you have already emailed or called thank you, and plz request your friends,
neighbors, colleagues (PT's and other health professionals) and patients who
have not, do the same.
>
>Legislators are hearing from the opposition. We cannot let them convince
legislators that patients are not safe if there was direct access to Physical
Therapy!
>
>Below is info youcan use to help coach folks not familier with the process:
>Heres the scoop re house bill 1112:
>
>Currently you can go to see a physical therapist for an evaluation but before
they can treat you, you would have to go back to see your Dr to get a
prescription. House bill 1112 would make it possible for you to get PT treatment
without always having to wait to get a prescription from you Dr first avoiding
delays and adding expense.
>
>
>Chiropractors (who you don't need a prescription to see) are calling their
Delegates to say it would be unsafe to see a PT without seeing your Dr or them
first. This simply is not so and we have allot of studies that would support
this.
>
>When you call or write your delegate let them know you live in their district.
>If you are comfortable with it please share any personal stories about how you
have benefited from PT and how much easier it would be for you, if you felt it
was what you needed, if you could eliminate having to endure the unnecessary
time or expense to always see your Dr first.
>
>Just say how you feel or use some of the suggestins below to help you make your
point:
>
>As a consumer who is interested in having access to quality and convenient
health care choices, I would like the opportunity to go directly to a licensed
physical therapist should I feel that such care is in my best interest.
>
>Virginia is one of a few states that still restrict an individual from
obtaining physical therapy
>services without a referral from another licensed health care provider. A
majority of states have eliminated this restriction, which has given individuals
the liberty to obtain treatment from a licensed physical therapist without the
added time and expense of seeking out a referral.
>
>Potential to improve timely patient access to physical therapy is the primary
reason for eliminating the mandated referral from another licensed health care
provider.
>
>
>Eliminating barriers to patient access to physical therapist care would improve
timely delivery of services, diminish the impacts of disease on disability, and
promote earlier return to prior functional levels.
>
>Direct access to a physical therapist is part of the solution to developing a
more responsive and readily accessible health care model.
>
>Direct access to physical therapists also would offer possible cost savings to
patients. These cost savings could be achieved by fewer co-payments and doctor
visit charges to obtain a referral and timely options for non-pharmaceutical
interventions to treat their impairments.
>
>Potential patients will call the clinic for information about making an
appointment for care related to a musculoskeletal problem and are upset to
discover that they must first see the physician to gain a referral when they
have been talking to their personal trainer at the gym about this without any
medical referral at all.
>
>Direct access encourages patients to become more actively engaged in their own
decision-making and proactively address health care problems before they become
more significant and costly impairments.
>
>The potential for cost savings, improved access to healthcare, and empowerment
of patients to make proactive healthcare decisions all support the advisability
of making this change.
>
>
>Thank you!
>
>Terry Izzo PT,PCS
>Legislative Chair
>Virginia Physical Therapy Association
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


Terry Izzo PT,PCS
Legislative Chair
Virginia Physical Therapy Association