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On August 8-9, 2008, Tom DiAngelis, PT; Leanne Parks, MPT; and Opal Riddle, PT attended the Clinical Instructor Certification course in Columbus, Ohio. This is a program developed by the APTA that provides the resources for clinical physical therapists to mentor and train physical therapist and physical therapist assistant students. Other CPTC therapists that are Certified Clinical Instructors include Meg Gleim, PT; Danielle Johnson, MPT; Phyllis Schulte, PT; and Dawn Westfall, MPT. In addition, Beth Taylor, PT became an Advanced Certified Clinical Instructor.
Photo courtesy of APTA
Tom DiAngelis, PT, Testifies on Behalf of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Private Practice Section
DiAngelis to Congress: Fee Schedule Cuts Could Have 'Devastating Impact' on PT Private Practice
Private Practice Section Vice President Tom DiAngelis, PT, testified on May 8 before the US House of Representatives Committee on Small Business hearing on "Medicare Physician Fee Cuts: Can Small Practices Survive?" In his testimony, DiAngelis commented that a scheduled 10.6% cut in Medicare physician payments could have an especially devastating impact on PTs in private practice, who are faced with not only the rising costs of running a small business, but also decreases in revenue due to a variety of government payment and policy challenges. The hearing on "Medicare Physician Fee Cuts: Can Small Practices Survive?" provided an opportunity for the committee to examine the potential impact of fee cuts on the practices of physicians and other allied health professionals.
"These Medicare beneficiaries are individuals who have suffered from stroke, had joint replacements or chronic diseases that impair their ability to move, walk, and perform their daily tasks," DiAngelis testified. "Physical therapist small businesses address these beneficiaries' health care needs throughout the United States and contribute to the health status of our country, including its economic health."
Physical therapists, in particular, are being hit especially hard, DiAngelis told Congress. Not only will they experience the overall 10.6% reduction in payment under the fee schedule, they also will be subject to an arbitrary annual cap of $1,810 per beneficiary on outpatient services beginning July 1.
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Watch Medicare Physician Fee Cuts: Can Small Practices Survive?
In October, 2007 Opal Riddle, PT presented on the topic "Efficacy of Weight-bearing Activities and Exercise with Osteoporosis Treatment" to physical therapist, advanced nurse practitioners and radiological technicians. The program was sponsored by the University of Cincinnati Hospitals Bone and Health Osteoporosis Center. For more information on Osteoporosis please go to the Osteoporosis link on this web site.