August 2026 PULSE

The PULSE The PULSE AUGUST 2026

COMMUNITY IN MOTION

Address

More Than More Than aa Profession Profession

The work we do matters. The people we serve matter.

There are moments when it is worth pausing to reflect on who we are and what we do.

Every day, people walk through the doors at PTSMC seeking help. Some are athletes trying to return to competition. Others are grandparents who want to pick up a grandchild without pain. Some are workers hoping to return to a job they love. Others simply want to walk farther, move better, or regain the confidence that an injury, illness, or surgery has taken away.These are our people.

Physical therapy is often described in terms of exercises, treatment plans, outcomes, and evidencebased care. In general, I am good with that. The concepts define our profession and support our ability to deliver exceptional results. Yet the true value of what we do extends far beyond the walls of our clinics.

We are a community of people dedicated to improving the quality of people's lives.

The impact reaches even farther. When we help one person recover, the benefit spreads to families, friends, coworkers, teammates, and entire communities. The positive change created by our work extends well beyond the patient standing in front of us. It creates a ripple effect that is difficult to measure but impossible to ignore.

Your dedication and commitment places us in a unique position within the communities we serve. We coach, educate, encourage, and advocate. We sponsor local events, volunteer our time, support charitable causes, and invest in the places where we live and work. Being part of this organization means more than providing healthcare services. It means being an active and positive force within our communities.

The main feature of this PULSE, is one example of the amazing things our people are doing for their communities. There is so much history of PTSMC clinics and staff going above and beyond to support others.

What our people do to support people is unmatched. I encourage you to flip to the main feature, where we hear from Elena Kelleher about bringing together her passions for a cause.

Thank you for the skill, compassion, energy, and commitment you bring each day. The work we do That mission is powerful because it connects every matters. The people we serve matter. And together, we role in our organization. Whether in the clinicians and are helping create healthier, stronger communities. patient facing, or behind the scenes administrative Thanks for all you bring to those we serve! support, each play a part in helping someone take a step toward a better life. While our responsibilities may differ, our mission is shared.

What makes physical therapy unique is that we often have the opportunity to witness transformation firsthand. We see the patient who arrives frustrated and discouraged return with renewed hope. We celebrate milestones that may seem small to others but represent life-changing victories to the individual achieving them. A first pain-free walk. A return to work.

A successful season. A family vacation enjoyed without limitations.

Those moments remind us that we are not simply treating injuries. We are helping people reclaim pieces of their lives.

Elena Kelleher, Janet Tarasuk, Amanda Leiss & Marilex Harwood

Announcements

Save the Date Getting the Most Out of Your UHC Benefits Enrolled in one of PTSMC’s UnitedHealthcare (UHC) medical plans? Join a “Getting the Most Out of Your UHC Benefits” webinar to learn how to make the most of your coverage.

UHC representatives will share helpful tips, tools, programs, and resources available to you and your family.

Tuesday, September 29, 2026 11:30 AM - 12:00PM Wednesday, September 30, 2026 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

IN THIS ISSUE

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Employees pg 6 Spotlight: Meagan Hoffman, Westbrook Assistant Director

Main Feature pg 7-8 Community in Motion

Look out for email communications to sign up for a date!

DISCOUNTED EDGE FITNESS MEMBERSHIPS ARE LIVE! A new PTSMC employee perk is here! PTSMC employees can now access discounted membership rates at The Edge Fitness Clubs.

READY TO JOIN? Available to all PTSMC employees, including current Edge members Register in person at any CT Edge location Bring the flyer on page 3 of the packet to receive discounted pricing CLICK HERE for full details and the registration flyer.

Highlights & Happenings pg 9-13 CIA Report pg 14 Smarter Tools, Better Documentation Money Beat pg 15-16 Federal Student Loans: The Rules Have Changed Clinicians Corner pg 17-18 Gans SOP Test: An Assessment For Uncompensated Vestibulopathy

You can also find the flyer in the: PTSMC Benefits Hub Perks & Programs.

→

Mileage Reimbursement Increase Effective August 1st The IRS standard mileage rate has increased from 72.50 to 76 cents per mile.

PTSMC mileage expenses from August 1, 2026, forward will follow the new rate. PTSMC's updated reimbursement forms will be available in ADP. Be on the lookout for an email from Sandra Boccialetti with more information!

August DEI Forum Thursday, August 27 2:30-3:00 PM Topic: Ageism: What is it? How do we navigate it?

RSVP by email to: Marilex.Harwood@ptsmc.com

PTSMC’S

BENEFITS HUB What you’ll find: Information about your PTSMC benefits Resources to support you through life's important milestones and transitions Mental, physical, and financial wellness tools

Visit the Hub PTSMC Benefits Hub

On-demand resources and helpful guides United Healthcare programs and member resources Employee perks, discounts, and additional support programs HR and benefits contacts when you need assistance

August Anniversaries Rob Bass Assistant Director Caty Mulligan Training & Development Years Coordinator

Year Melissa Borsey Ella Bowman Om Brown Jaiden Cavallo Lillian Chapman Jessica Cherwin Savannah Diogostine

PSC PT Aide PT Aide PT Aide PT Aide PCC PT Aide

Abigail Fishbein Chantel Francis Mikayla Franklin Emily Fransko Naugatuck Amanda Funari Fairfield Issac Gran Danielson Ryan Hanniford Hamden Brooke Kiazim New Milford Katya Lazor Norwich Patricia Li Naugatuck Wentao Li Matthew Luongo

Middletown Admin

PT Aide PT Aide AT PT Aide PT Aide PT Aide PT Aide PT Aide PCC PT Aide PT PT Aide

Years

Southington Orange Essex Fairfield Glastonbury Southbury Westbrook Wallingford Simsbury Orange Orange Guilford

Nathaniel Biega Liza Peressini

PT Aide PT

PT Aide Emily Macedo PT Aide Giovanna Madera PT Aide Mira Mahmoud PSC Ivelisse Miranda PSC Brenda Mortensen PT Aide Caitlyn Murray Maeghan O’Laughlin PT Aide PT Aide Myelle Oliver PT Sarah Ovensy PT Aide Sophia Patterson PT Aide Kiely Raucci PT Cory Wolski

Avon Danbury

Guilford Naugatuck Windsor East Hampton Simsbury Wallingford Manchester New Haven Newington Shelton Shelton Avon

Welcome

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ptsmc employees ome Back!

Welc

Kelsey Abbott Groton Travel PT

Briana Avitable West Hartford PT

Hollie Bomba Watertown PT Aide

Tracy Capinera Wethersfield PT

Cristiana De Vivo Wallingford PT Aide

Maguire Hawkesby-Mullins Newington PT Aide

Tony Leakehe Norwich Travel PT

Alexa Leviness New Milford PCC

Amanda Morgan Westbrook Travel PT

ome Back!

Welc

Kyle Fuerst Westbrook PT

Not Pictured New Employees Kareem Davis, Middletown PT Aide Lauren Nones, Watertown PT Aide Victoria Serna- Schuller, Plainville PT Aide

New Positions!

Congratulations to Mike Popolizio on his promotion to Glastonbury Assistant Director!

The Front Desk Training Team has expanded!

Joining existing trainers Amanda Leiss (Wallingford PSA) and McKenzie Daniels (Newington PSA), are Alex Signore (Guilford PSC), Lauren Zehnder (Essex PSA, not pictured), and Megan Morgan (Manchester PSC). Led by Stevie Fell, (Operations Coordinator) this team of experienced front desk staff will support new hire onboarding, provide ongoing education for current team members, and serve as a go-to resource for front desk questions and process guidance.

They will be helping ensure every front desk team has the tools and support they need to succeed, through sharing best practices, reinforcing workflows, and helping create a consistent experience across all locations. Just as importantly, this expansion was about creating a meaningful growth opportunity for our nonclinical team members to develop their leadership skills while making a lasting impact across the organization.

Stevie is looking forward to this groups’ expertise reaching each clinic and patients. She is already thankful for the time and efforts they will spend one on one training and helping other front desk staff members.

Promotions

Congratulations to Michaela Houk on her promotion to Patient Services Administrator in New Haven!

Michaela started working in New Haven as a PT Aide in 2024 and quickly distinguished herself as a deeply caring, smart, and hardworking individual. These characteristics lead to her two previous promotions of PCC and then PSC later that year. As a PSC she continued to grow tremendously and became the go-to person for all things front desk and schedule related. Her experience in the gym and at the front desk have given her a well-rounded perspective on both the patient care and administrative sides of PTSMC. In her new role, Michaela will take on expanded office operations responsibilities while stepping into a larger

leadership role within the clinic. She is especially excited for the opportunity to support the team in new ways and continue helping create a positive, efficient experience for patients and staff.

As a leader, she holds herself to a high standard and values being a positive example for those around her.

Michaela shared that she absolutely loves working in New Haven, where she enjoys working with all of the incredible staff each day. Fred Havlicek, New Haven Partner, remarked “Michaela perfectly embodies our “PT for Life” culture. Patients and staff love her. She makes us all better and we are all thankful for all her talents and contributions”.

Congratulations to Lexi Shafman on her promotion to Patient Services Administrator in Westbrook!

Since joining the team in November 2024, Lexi has been a familiar and welcoming presence for everyone around her. Her positive attitude and commitment to creating an outstanding patient experience have made her an invaluable part of the Westbrook team. In her new role she will make a greater impact by taking on leadership responsibilities at the front desk, helping to support clinic operations and continuing to foster a positive and patient-centered environment. Lexi shared that she is most excited about the opportunity to grow as a PSA: “With this new role, I have more of a leadership position “up front”. I am looking forward to learning and growing as a leader.” She believes her experience at PTSMC has prepared her well for this transition.

Working closely with patients has strengthened her ability to adapt to changing situations, communicate effectively, and tackle challenges with confidence. These skills have helped her build strong relationships and contribute to the success of the clinic. When asked what she enjoys most about working at Westbrook, Lexi pointed to the connections she has built along the way: “I have felt incredibly supported by the people I work with, and I truly enjoy getting to know the patients who come through our office each day.” Scott Cameron, Westbrook Partner, shared his excitement for Lexi’s promotion: “Lexi has consistently demonstrated a positive attitude, exceptional organization, and a genuine commitment to helping both our patients and team. Her reliability, positive energy, and patient-first mindset have made her a valuable member of the team, and we're excited to see her thrive in this new role supporting our patients and clinic operations.”

Emp

n a g a e M SPOT LIGHT o f f m a n H

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H Just over a year ago, Meagan Hoffman became the Assistant Director in Westbrook. She joined the team back in 2015 and has been a constant there ever since. Meagan manages Westbrook’s PT Aide schedules and is the Prompt Champion. She is passionate about helping clinical staff build confidence in their documentation skills, ensuring compliance through review and support, and mentoring new team members as they acclimate to the clinic and get into their own rhythm.

Aside from the team, Meagan’s favorite thing about Westbrook is the patients.

She has a lot of repeat patients who have been coming to the clinic for many years. (Can you say PT For Life!?) She currently enjoys treating patients who need the LSVT Parkinson’s Program. She obtained this certification in 2024 after a long-term patient of hers was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Together with Heidi Bridge (Westbrook PTA), they work together to treat a number of patients in need through the 16-visit protocol. Seeing how much these patients improve when they come back for a check-in a few months later is really rewarding.

Meagan grew up in CT and currently lives in Niantic with her husband Jeff and two daughters, who are seven and five years old. She went to Springfield College for their 3 & 3 undergrad-doctorate PT program where she was also a cheerleader! She says this tends to come as a surprise to people since she’s a quieter person, yet she spent 15 years cheering. Now, her oldest daughter has started to cheer, which has been so much fun to experience together. She had her first competition recently, which was just as cute as you can imagine!

As a family, the Hoffmans love to go to the beach, and spend most of their free time out in the sand or on the water. Meagan grew up going to her family’s beach cottage in Old Lyme and now her daughters are having so much fun visiting it too. They also make an annual summer trip to Cape Cod, continuing the family beach traditions. Whether they are on a boat, biking, or swimming, they are always super active together!

A lot of Meagan’s personal time is spent doing housework. If she has moments to sit and relax, she loves to read; Colleen Hoover, Freida McFadden, and Emily Henry are a few of her favorite authors.

She also loves to travel. Whether it is with her kids, just her husband, friends, or extended family, she’s always up for a trip. She likes to explore new places, travel to see family on the west coast, or revisit traditions like Cape Cod.

Meagan is a certified pediatric sleep consultant. She helps parents foster independent sleep skills with their little ones- from newborn to 8 years old. She started this with a friend of 20+ years, and together they are able to help so many families.

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COMMUNITY IN MOTION

From year-round clinic partnerships to the starting line, PTSMC employees are finding meaningful ways to serve their communities.

Across PTSMC, community involvement doesn’t happen during just one season or through one companywide campaign. Throughout the year, clinics build relationships with local organizations, organize collections, volunteer their time, support community events, and respond to the needs they see around them.

Those efforts often begin with one employee or clinic asking a simple question: How can we help?

Windsor was among the first PTSMC clinics to turn that spirit of service into a community race, hosting its Race to the Weekend Wheels 5K Run & Walk an event to support food insecurity backpack program Weekend Wheels back in 2023 and 2024. After running in both races, Elena Kelleher, Wallingford Assistant Director & PT saw an opportunity to carry its spirit forward in her own clinic’s community.

That realization became this year’s inaugural Stride to Provide 5K Run/Walk, benefiting Master’s Manna in Wallingford. We took some time to ask Elena some details about the race and to see how our PTSMC community can support.

What made you decide to organize a race?

Why did you choose Master’s Manna?

“I liked how the Windsor office did it, and when I found out they weren’t going to do it anymore, I was sad. But then I remembered that I could just make it happen myself.”

The Wallingford clinic already had a relationship with Master’s Manna through previous food, clothing, and shoe drives. Supporting an organization that directly serves the clinic’s own community felt like a natural choice.

As a longtime runner, Elena also loved the idea of creating an event that would bring employees, patients, and community members together.

“I love the energy around races and how everyone in the community comes together. I also like getting all of the PTSMC clinics together. It’s great to see everyone.”

26,355

individual pantry visits

Master’s Manna helps Wallingford-area residents facing food insecurity and financial hardship through its food pantry, Family Dining Center, clothing distribution program, and deliveries to residents who are physically homebound.

MASTER’S MANNA BY THE NUMBERS 22,188

meals served

12,546

pounds of clothing distributed

5

Community meals each week

What has surprised you about organizing a 5K?

Creating the event required much more than selecting a date and inviting people to participate. Elena had to navigate permits, road logistics, event expenses, timing services and the deceptively difficult task of creating a course measuring exactly 3.12 miles.

Elena and fellow Wallingford PSA Amanda Leiss even tested possible routes themselves. One early option looked promising until they discovered that much of it was uphill...

“We were just running uphill and could see the ground in front of us. We were like, ‘Well that’s not happening.’”

The final course begins and ends at Dag Middle School and is designed to be relatively flat and approachable for runners and walkers.

Do participants have to be runners?

Not at all.

“It’s going to be very low-key. If you’re trying to run fast, you can run fast, but there are also going to be lots of walkers. Take it at your own pace! You don’t have to run a six-minute mile.”

A welcoming atmosphere is central to Elena’s vision for the event, and reflects what she hopes people experience when they walk into the Wallingford clinic.

“When people come to PT here, they always say we’re different from other places they’ve been because we all look happy to work together. We’re a very welcoming environment, so I hope our race is similar.”

What do you hope Stride to Provide accomplishes?

Elena hopes the event raises meaningful support for Master’s Manna, strengthens connections throughout Wallingford and gives employees from across PTSMC another opportunity to come together.

“There are other ways of helping people outside of PT,” and this event demonstrates that improving lives can extend beyond the care provided inside clinics.

Ultimately, Elena hopes Stride to Provide becomes a recurring Wallingford tradition, and perhaps encourages other employees to consider what they could create in their own communities.

If you are interested in volunteering for the race please reach out to Elena at elena.kelleher@ptsmc.com

RACE DETAILS

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STRIDE TO PROVIDE 5K RUN/WALK Sunday, September 13 9AM - 1PM DAG Middle School Wallingford, CT Visit the race website & register now

MOST NEEDED DONATIONS Help stock the Master’s Manna pantry by bringing: Peanut butter Canned fruit Soup, stew, chili & other hearty canned meals Other nonperishable food Gently used shoes without holes *raffle tickets will be given for every canned good or shoe donation

WAYS TO HELP Run or Walk Volunteer Donate canned goods or shoes Provide post race PT Invite friends and family Cheer others on!

100% net proceeds go to Master’s Manna

HIGHLIGHTS Celebrating our people, clinics, and communities

ANDRE DRUMMOND ALL STARS CAMP For the second year in a row, PTSMC was proud to be part of the Andre Drummond All Stars Camp!

Christina Swan kicked off the day by leading 250 young athletes through a dynamic warm-up, with Janet Tarasuk jumping in to lend a hand.

Later, Christina was joined by Marilex Harwood for an interactive leadership session focused on dreaming big. Christina rounded out the day by joining a panel for parents.

The free camp brings together kids of all ages who share a passion for basketball.

Congratulations to Conner Gavin, PTSMC’s newest Partner! Conner will be opening the next clinic in Swansea, Massachusetts on September 21.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS! Plainville celebrated their 10 year milestone with a gathering of staff, patients, family and friends!

Kevin Connellan and his wife Annie are pictured with Plainville's first patient Christine and her husband Michael.

Clinic Anniversaries!

Openings:

Norwich 2025

Year

On the Road with the PLs Clinicians from Danbury, New Milford & Newtown met with Kristie VonWinkle PA-C from Connecticut Children’s.

Clinicians from multiple locations met virtually with Dr. Cheyenne Beach and her team from Yale Pediatric Cardiology to discuss POTS. Clinicians from East Hampton, Manchester, Plainville, Southbury & Waterbury met with Dr. Michael Weber and Ethen Mester PA-C from UCONN. Alex Jones (Windsor) met with Oral Surgeon, Dr. Nicolas Saggese, DMD from CT Maxillofacial Windsor to talk about TMD, jaw/neck pain, & vestibular therapy.

Bri Boulerice (Waterbury) & Janet attended Comprehensive Orthopaedics' Grand Opening They met with Dr. Covey, Dr. Wolf, Dr. Driscoll, Dr. Ferguson, Dr Stockton & Dr. Comer.

CAUGHT IN THE MEDIA!

Brittany Anderson (Glastonbury) shadowed Dr. Alex Dukas during clinical hours, branched a connection and observed his patient care approach/style.

Clinicians from Bristol, Plainville, Southington & Wallingford met with Comprehensive Orthopaedics, specifically Dr. Seidel, Dr. Charette & Dr. Comer, at their new Southington Location for a tour & lunch discussion.

Jillian Cristaldi (Wethersfield), Katie Redman (West Hartford) & Heather Marosz (Middletown) met with providers from Women's Health CT: OBGYN and Midwifery of CT Manchester for a lunch & learn.

Heather represented PTSMC shoreline pelvic health clinicians in an introduction to Jill McEachern, APRN of Dahlia Midlife Health, Guilford.

Adam Rosenblatt (Norwich) met with the NFA High School Athletic Trainer.

Fab 5

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I’ve worked with Emily (Searle) for three different issues, and she’s fixed me every time!

The staff are also friendly, appointments are on time, and easy to schedule. I’ve only had good experiences there!

-Lock Street Everyone at PTSMC is very welcoming and friendly. It's evident that Adam (Rosenblatt) has a lot of knowledge to share and supports his patients.

-Norwich I am impressed with the competence and friendliness of this staff. This group seems to enjoy helping their patients improve their situations. I am guessing that they have a high rate of success. A+ -Putnam My therapist, Mike (Stofko), is amazing and helps me make meaningful progress in my recovery post-surgery.

-Shelton Great service. Briana (Boulerice) is an awesome therapist. My son’s ankle was injured three to four times, he was not playing soccer how he used to because of the injury, but Briana worked with him stage by stage to get him as close to what he used to be. Thank you. I would recommend PTSMC any day. They were recommended to me and it was a great recommendation.

-Waterbury

Pat Coley is taking PTSMC Guilford followers along for his ACL recovery journey! Now experiencing rehab from the patient side, Pat will be sharing his pre and post-op treatment along the way. Wishing you a smooth recovery, Pat—we’re cheering you on!

New Haven was recently featured on WTNH “What’s Right with Schools” segment.

Recent Amity Regional High School graduate, Caleb, was interviewed about his time as an intern for the clinic.

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE OCS CERTIFIED

Congrats DOCS Grad!

DAN VALA

PT, DPT, CSCS Congratulations to Dan Vala, Middletown PT & class of '25 PTSMC Residency, who achieved his OCS! Why did you pursue OCS? The biggest reason for me pursuing my OCS was to be able to practice at the top of my license and there were still large gaps in my knowledge when first graduating. I also would like to eventually get into teaching or mentoring and I felt that doing a residency would help me be better prepared for that down the road.

SIPTA

Lexie Lamontagne , PTA

Groton Physical Therapy Assistant

The most influential part of the DOCS program was being able to collaborate with mentors and peers within the company to improve our skills as clinicians.

I am currently in a PTA to DPT bridge program so I am learning every day and excited to see where this new degree takes me.

GRADUATES

Congrats to the following PT Aides who completed the Skills Introduction for PT Aides Program: Emma Coelho, Southbury Isabella Giordano, New Haven Oliver Kabel, New Haven Landon Manzi, Danielson Thomas Morgan, Newtown/Monroe Casden Parker, Easthampton, MA Jacob Ross, Orange Aaron Sullivan, Shelton Arianna Tomassi, Guilford Amanda Wall, Avon Natalie Wiencus, Easthampton, MA

Clinicians attended the second PTSMC Dry Needling Lab, led

by Liza Peressini & Meaghan Blanusa. They met up at the Newington clinic to review skills and share updated practices.

Student Program Update CI’s with August Students Shawn Nash, Manchester, will host Jordan Wiggins from Graceland University.

Mike Popolizio, Glastonbury, will host Cass LaSaracina from Florida Southern College.

“Thank you for such an amazing experience! All of the therapists are amazing and such hard workers. This company takes a lot of time to ensure that not only its patients are treated well, but also its employees, and it is very apparent. I also love how many locations in CT there are.” -Student on first affiliation

Happenings!

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Guilford threw Liz Rubbo a bridal shower for her upcoming wedding!

Brian Greer, his wife Erin, and son Jack, welcomed baby boy Cole on June 6!

Manchester team pictured with student Mason on his last day!

Natalie Swanson got engaged on May 9 to her now fiancé Sam!

Casey DeLucia welcomed baby girl Carlee on May 28.

Alan Balavender, Jim Hungerford, Mike Durand & Mallory Izmirlian represented PTSMC at the CBIA golf tournament.

New Milford celebrated Bryan O’Neill one last time together before his move!

Plainville was out stretching and representing at the annual Petit 5K.

Simsbury visited Easthampton MA to check out the clinic and for some friendly competition & team building together.

Janet Tarasuk represented at Hartford’s River Front 4 mile race placing 2nd in her age division!

Shelton patients Mark & Erin gave a shout out to Katherine Fan at their local Fourth of July Parade!

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CIA Report Smarter Tools, Better Documentation

5 Simple ways to save time, improve documentation quality, and make better use of tools already available in your workflow.

Use Sidekick for Education Documentation Patient education is a valuable skilled service and it needs to be documented clearly and specifically.

When using Sidekick, provide specific prompts such as:

Evaluation Objective Templates Save time by using evaluation templates that contain commonly used objective measures.

Standard templates: 1 Obj Body Part PTSMC Templates with drop down menus: 2 Obj Body Part PTSMC

Take Advantage of the Quick Add Treatment Feature Use the Quick Add feature when adding exercises and interventions rather than searching through opening up the exercise box

“Document my education on proper lifting mechanics as 97530” “Document patient education regarding home exercise progression as 97110” “Document education on monitoring wound and dressing with surgical precautions as 97535”

Favorite Your Most-Used Exercises in Engage Favoriting exercises provides easier access to frequently used exercises, making HEP creation and additions to treatment session quicker.

Utilize Treatment Templates to Save Time on Exercise Selection

Optimize your exercise selection process by using treatment templates. For instance, if you usually begin with specific exercises for a post-op TKA, you can create a template with these exercises already included, reducing the time spent searching for exercises related to that condition.

Treatment templates can be created by going to: Library → Treatment Templates → Add New

MONEY BEAT FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS

THE RULES HAVE CHANGED What borrowers should know about the changes effective July 1, 2026 Major changes to federal student loan rules took effect on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, limiting how much a student can borrow and narrowing their repayment options.

The overhaul, made under the 2025 Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTCA), will affect millions of people who take out loans to finance their education, or who have existing student loan debt. Here are some of the significant changes to borrowing and repaying Federal Student Loans:

BEFORE LEGACY BORROWER

Older repayment options remain available NOTE: SAVE plan ending

SAVE PLAN EXPIRING Borrowers enrolled in the Saving On A Valuable Education (SAVE) plan are among those affected. If you graduated from school prior to July 1, 2026, you are classified as a "legacy borrower" (or a pre-July 2026 borrower). This means you are exempt from the strict new borrowing caps and retain access to older income-driven plans, with one major exception- the SAVE plan is officially ending.

ON/AFTER

July 1 2026

NEW BORROWER

New borrowing & repayment rules

THE 90-DAY SAVE PLAN EXIT MANDATE If you were one of the millions of borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan, your loan servicer will issue you an official notice of the expiring SAVE plan.

90 DAYS

THE DEADLINE

Once you receive the notification from your servicer, you have a strict 90-day window to choose a new plan. As a pre-July 2026 borrower, you can choose from any of the older income-driven repayment (IDR) plans or the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP).

THE PENALTY

If you fail to act within those 90 days, you will be automatically enrolled in a Standard Fixed Plan, which could spike your monthly payment.

BEFORE YOU CONSOLIDATE

If you choose to consolidate your older federal loans into a new Direct Consolidation Loan, doing so will permanently strip away your legacy status. The federal system will view the consolidation loan as a "new loan," forcing all your debt entirely into the new system, meaning you will lose access to IBR, ICR, and PAYE, leaving you with only the Tiered Standard or RAP options.

For help with what new plan to choose if you are currently in the SAVE plan that is expiring, there is an online calculator at www.edcapny.org that may help you decide which plan to choose.

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NEW LIMITS ON STUDENT BORROWING

New rules introduced under last year’s tax and spending bill impose stricter limits on how much students can borrow to finance their studies.

PARENT PLUS LOAN PROGRAM

GRADUATE PLUS LOANS & GRADUATE STUDIES

PROFESSIONAL DEGREES (INCLUDES DPT)

$20K

$20K

$50K

$65K total

$100K total

$200K total

PER YEAR

PER YEAR

per student One major change is to the Parent PLUS loan program, which allows parents to take out a federal loan for their child's undergraduate education. Historically, parents could borrow up to the full cost of attending school. Starting July 1, 2026, parents will be capped at $20,000 a year and $65,000 total per student.

PER YEAR

per student As of July 1, new student loan borrowers are blocked from Graduate PLUS loans which allowed people to borrow as much as they needed to fund their degree. Current Grad PLUS borrowers will be grandfathered and will still be able to access the loans.

Grad students will still be able to take up to $20,500 per year, however, beginning July 1, 2026, a new cap will prevent them from taking out more than $100,000 for their degree.

per student The new rules also affect people pursuing professional degrees, with students in certain fields restricted to borrowing $50,000 per year and $200,000 total.

FOR OUR PT COMMUNITY The new rules include Physical Therapy (DPT) among the professional degrees affected by new borrowing limits.

LIFETIME LOAN CAP

Finally, aside from a few carveouts, anyone who gets a loan on or after July 1, 2026 will have a lifetime loan cap of

$257,500

PER BORROWER meaning over the course of your undergraduate and graduate/professional schooling, that is a person’s cap.

NEW REPAYMENT OPTION LIMITATIONS NEW LOAN BORROWERS

Beginning July 1, 2026 borrowers who take out a new federal student loan will have only two repayment options: the Tiered Standard Plan and a new income-driven repayment plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP. Borrowers with existing loans who take out a new loan after July 1, 2026 will also be subject to the new rules. Once the new loan enters repayment, all their federal loans must be repaid under one of the two new plans.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

CURRENT BORROWERS

Current borrowers who do not take out new loans after July 1, 2026 can continue to access the existing repayment options, which include: Standard Repayment Plan Extended Repayment Plan Graduated Repayment Plan Income Based Repayment Plan Pay As You Earn Plan Income Contingent Repayment Plan Repayment Assistance Plan

To continue to learn more, go to the Federal Student Aid website: https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/big-updates/definitions

Clinicians Corner

Gans SOP Test:

An Assessment for Uncompensated Vestibulopathy Matt Salisbury, PTA

Bristol Physical Therapist Assistant

Apart from “I have pain,” there is another complaint all too commonly heard by physicians and clinicians alike: “I’m dizzy.” An estimated 15-20% of adults are affected by dizziness yearly and the overall incidence of dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance is 5–10%, reaching 40% in patients older than 40.1 It is also estimated that 85% of dizziness and balance dysfunction is related to the inner ear.2 Dizziness and difficulty with balance can arise from a number of factors. One test used to determine if one of those factors is uncompensated vestibulopathy is the Gans SOP Test. This bedside assessment is broken up into seven semi-progressive test positions, each maintained for 20 seconds: 1) feet shoulder width apart, eyes open; 2) feet shoulder width apart, eyes closed; 3) one step forward, loose tandem, eyes open; 4) one step forward, loose tandem, eyes closed; 5) standing on foam, eyes open; 6) standing on foam, eyes closed; 7) Stepping Fukuda—marching in place with eyes closed. For the most accurate results, the test should be performed without shoes. For positions 1-6, if a patient has to step outside of the test position to maintain balance during the twenty seconds—or the clinician must intervene for safety reasons—it is marked down with an “F” for “Fall.” Otherwise, it can be marked with an “N” for “normal” or “S” for “Sway.” For position 7, Stepping Fukuda, scoring is either “N” for normal or “L/R” if the patient rotated more than 30 degrees left or right by the conclusion of the test.

If a patient is unable to complete any portion of steps 1-4 of the assessment, the remainder of the test cannot reliably be performed to rule in or out uncompensated vestibulopathy, indicating the patient’s balance issues are likely multifactorial. That said, vestibulopathy could still be one of those factors, but this specific test will not be able to assess for that possibility. Assuming the patient can complete steps 14, if the patient “falls” in position 6, they are 75% likely to have uncompensated vestibulopathy. If they “rotate” left or right during position 7, they are 50% likely to have uncompensated vestibulopathy.

If they “fall” in position 6 AND rotate in position 7, they are likely to have uncompensated vestibulopathy with 95% sensitivity.3 As noted above, the inner ear is related to 85% of dizziness and balance dysfunction. Uncompensated vestibulopathy is one component of that 85%. Another component is BPPV, which can be assessed and treated through specific canalith repositioning maneuvers. Other factors that could be affecting a patient’s dizziness or balance deficits include but are not necessarily limited to: neuropathy, visual impairments, CNS dysfunction, orthostatic hypotension, or cervicogenic causes. Why mention this?

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Because the Gans SOP test may indicate uncompensated vestibulopathy, but in the case a patient “fell” during the first 4 test positions, these other factors may be contributing to, or be the cause of, their complaints of dizziness or imbalance. Either way, the Gans SOP Test will give you a good foundation from which you can tease out what specifically is affecting your patient’s dizziness and balance deficits, and then more accurately treat them.

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