Reimbursement Committee

2007 7-25

Update on the FPTA payors forum...what is it???

Payors forums have been taken on by other components to create relationships with states payors sources, become a liaison for reimbursement questions regarding physical therapy, and educate payors on the benefits of our profession. The APTA has developed guidelines on setting up these payors forums and the FPTA assembly passed FA 09-06 that stated the following:

FA 09-06 - The Southeast District moves that the FPTA develop and implement an Insurance Payor Forum that would focus on education of the payor community regarding the physical therapist as the practitioner of choice for the diagnosis, intervention and prevention of impairments, functional limitations and disabilities related to movement, function and health. The FPTA should communicate with the APTA in reference to existing program development and potential funding assistance with a report back to the 2007 Assembly of Representatives. REFERRED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

This will be the first attempt by the FPTA to hold an educational seminar for PT payors in Florida. Our first attempt will be to set up a one day forum (tentatively scheduled Dec 7th) in Orlando (tentatively at the Florida Mall) to as many INS, WC, case mngrs, Adjusters, CMS, etc, regarding physical therapy. Steve Levine will be our main speaker and we will be starting with the basics as outlined in APTAs guidelines from the 2006 Reimbursement meeting in Virginia. The idea is to continue the forum every year and present "the basics" and more advanced information for returning payors and eventually add on a second day for physical therapists regarding reimbursement trends and education as well.

We will need as many payor contacts as possible to market the forum, we will need individuals to help solicit the forum, become part of the reimbursement committee to answer reimbursement issues for payors as we develop relationships and become liaisons to these payors. Once again this is our first attempt at this venue and we will start simply and build upon our knowledge as we continue annually to present.

Thank you for your inquiry and support. If you have contacts that we can encourage to attend, please send me their information. We hope to have CEs as well to attract the largest group. I hope this answers your questions fully.

Sincerely,

Thomas S. Zeller, MPT

The 2006 Assembly of Representatives passed Florida Amendment FA-09-06 that states:

FA 09-06 - The Southeast District moves that the FPTA develop and implement an Insurance Payor Forum that would focus on education of the payor community regarding the physical therapist as the practitioner of choice for the diagnosis, intervention and prevention of impairments, functional limitations and disabilities related to movement, function and health. The FPTA should communicate with the APTA in reference to existing program development and potential funding assistance with a report back to the 2007 Assembly of Representatives.

The FPTA strategic plan of the FPTA states:

Objective: Strategically develop relations with all payer-sources to promote physical therapists and cost-effectiveness.
Assigned to: Reimbursement Panel/Committee
Target Date: December, 2006

The reimbursement committee is currently organizing a Payors Summit/Forum that will educate the payor community regarding the physical therapist as the practitioner of choice for the diagnosis, intervention and prevention of impairments, functional limitations and disabilities related to movement, function and health. It also meets the objectives set forth in the FPTA strategic plan.

Details regarding the Payors Summit/Forum will be posted as they become available.

Thomas S. Zeller, MPT

2006 8-20

The 2005 strategic plan was developed by the FPTA board of directors to guide our professional associations movement towards future goals. The goals were developed in line with the American Physical Therapy Associations vision 2020. Goal I of our strategic plan is clearly stated.

FPTA Board of Directors 2005 Strategic Plan

Goal I –

FPTA through government relations and advocacy will protect and advance the profession and access to reimbursement.

Objective: Advance the concepts of direct access, professional autonomy and/or independent practice in support of APTA’s Vision 2020.

As chair of the reimbursement panel I have lofty goals to improve our standing as the musculoskeletal healthcare practioners of choice. Please contact me if you have interest in participating in our committee. I will be posting ongoing reports of our progress and goals on this page.

Thomas S. Zeller, MPT