2016 Innovative Component Award Nomination



Component Award Category: Innovative Component: Kentucky Physical Therapy Association Address: 15847 Teal Road Verona, KY 41092 E-mail: kptaky@gmail.com Web site: www.kpta.org Phone: 859-485-2812 Fax: 859-485-2812 Submitting Nomination: Lisa Volz, Executive Director, mailto:kptaky@gmail.com

What a Difference a Day Makes!

The Kentucky Physical Therapy Association (KPTA) respectfully requests your consideration of our accomplishments for the “Innovative Component Award.”

On March 8, 2016 KPTA coordinated “Therapy Alliance Legislative Day.” In an exuberant showing of inter-professionalism, KPTA joined forces with the Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association and the Kentucky Speech Hearing Association and met with state legislators on the importance of consumer access to therapy services.

Attendees were treated to a brief welcoming program presented by association leaders and a special keynote address by Senator John Schickel.

Attendees gather in the rotunda of Kentucky’s Capitol Building for a group photo. Over 200 PTs, PTAs and students attended the 2016 Therapy Alliance Legislative Day. In total, over 400 physical, occupational and speech therapists and assistants participated in the festivities.

Following the welcome, participants then disbursed to meet and network with state legislators. Talking points included:     

Access to physical therapy should be considered when determining the Medicaid budget.

Our association’s opposition to referral-for-profit situations that affect rehabilitation services.

Direct access to physical therapy in Kentucky, which allows consumers greater access to rehabilitation care (unless restricted by insurance).

Research showing that early access to physical therapy may eliminate the need for more costly procedures, such as surgeries, later. This not only allows our citizens to return to work sooner, but also benefits our Commonwealth by reducing its healthcare expenses.

Causing detriment to our citizens, many third party payers are controlling the frequency, intervention and reimbursement of care.

Legislators were given a “Hot Topics” handout (exhibit 1) and APTA’s Term Protection Ad (exhibit 2).

Scott Majors, Executive Director for the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy and Lisa Volz, Executive Director for KPTA present “Areas of Common Confusion.”

The brief educational session highlighted the distinct roles of the association and the licensure board.

Senator John Schickel of District 11, Boone County, welcomed the group to 2016 Therapy Alliance Legislative Day.

In addition to creating relationships with legislators, KPTA acquired a private room at the Capitol to meet with our members about the differences between KPTA and our Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy (KBPT). Lisa Volz, KPTA Executive Director, and Scott Majors, KBPT Executive Director, jointly presented on areas of common confusion that PTs and PTAs seem to experience in distinguishing between the two entities. Lisa and Scott discussed the different roles that KPTA/KBPT play in:   

Public protection Continued competency/professional development Licensure issues

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Professional advocacy and advancement (legislative, payment policy, etc.)

To ensure the event was captured in social media, KPTA’s Student Special Interest Group sponsored a “Therapy Alliance Legislative Day Selfie Challenge,” (exhibit 3). All PT and PTA students were challenged to take the most creative selfie on Therapy Alliance Legislative Day. By posting their photos using the hashtag #16PTAdvocacy, students became eligible to win a $50 Starbucks gift card. The photos can be viewed here.

In all, over 78 legislators were visited by over 200 PTs, PTAs and students. Of particular interest:    

A group of PT students fitted Representative Jerry Miller for a brace.

A second group of PT students did a fitness screening on Senator Paul Hornback. Senator Hornback also provided a video greeting.

Senator Robert Stivers referred to physical therapists as “primary care providers,” to our group visiting him.

The following senators and representatives liked, retweeted and/or responded to our tweets about Therapy Alliance Legislative Day: Jimmy Higdon, John Schickel, Ken Upchurch, Whitney Westerfield and Mike Wilson.

Senator Paul Hornback receives a fitness screening from PT students.

Representative Jerry Miller is fitted for a brace by his PT student constituents.

Because our multi-disciplinary approach to addressing rehabilitative issues has strengthened our position and visibility as outlined above, our grassroots endeavors influenced the following legislation this session:

HB329 (BR90) - R. Smart AN ACT relating to recreational therapists and making an appropriation therefore. This bill eerily mirrored the physical therapy practice act in Kentucky and the scope of practice and patient population of recreational therapists was not clearly defined. As a result of grassroots lobbying by members, this bill “died” in committee.

SB18 (BR126) - R. Alvarado AN ACT relating to medical coverage. This bill would establish a policy governing the procedures for an insurer changing an existing agreement with a provider; amend KRS 304.17A-545 to require an insurer offering a health benefit plan to establish a policy governing the procedures for a Managed Care Organization changing an existing agreement with a provider. KPTA and KOTA successfully lobbied for physical and occupational therapists to be included in this bill. The bill passed the Senate and is on the consent agenda for the House.

SB20/FN (BR131) - R. Alvarado, J. Bowen, D. Carroll, J. Higdon, S. Humphries, D. Thayer, R. Webb, S. West, W. Westerfield, M. Wilson, M. Wise AN ACT relating to Medicaid provider appeals and declaring an emergency. This bill creates new sections of KRS Chapter 205 to define terms, and permit a provider that has exhausted an internal appeals process of a Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) to be entitled to an administrative appeals hearing; require an MCO to send a final determination letter; establish proceedings for an administrative appeals hearing; establish a mechanism for attorneys' fees; establish a fee for the party that does not prevail to cover costs of the proceeding; clarify that this bill applies to all MCO contracts enacted on or after July 1, 2016; amend KRS 13B.020 to include the provider appeals process as a type of administrative hearings to be conducted by the CHFS. KPTA, KOTA and KSHA lobbied in support of this bill, which has passed through the Senate and is expected to pass in the House.

SB67 (BR471) - R. Alvarado AN ACT relating to athletic trainers. KPTA opposed this bill which would amend KRS 311.903 to allow an athletic trainer to seek reimbursement for services within his or her scope of practice only if the services were prescribed by a physician. As a result of testimony by KPTA members, the bill “died” in committee.

SB140 (BR1345) - M. Wise, M. Wilson, G. Neal AN ACT relating to interstate distance education among postsecondary institutions. This bill would amend 164.540 to authorize the Council on Postsecondary Education to enter into the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, for the purpose of authorizing a postsecondary institution located in another state to provide distance education to Kentucky residents; serve as the lead or "portal" agency responsible for contact with other states on matters pertaining to interstate reciprocity agreements; promulgate administrative regulations. KPTA lobbied in support of this bill (collaborating with lobbyists and our students from Bellarmine University, University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University), which would make it more affordable for PT students to cross state lines for clinical education experiences. The bill passed.

Because our creativity, passion, and commitment to advocacy have garnered success in the legislative arena, we hope you will consider the Kentucky Physical Therapy Association as this year’s Innovative Component.

EXHIBIT 1

EXHIBIT 2

EXHIBIT 3

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Following the event, attendees were provided with a thank-you note template to follow up with their legislators: