March Focus: Payment
This March, focus on optimizing payment strategies for your practice! Understanding payment models, navigating reimbursement challenges, and maximizing revenue are all key to running a successful business. Whether you're dealing with private insurance, Medicare, or direct-to-consumer payment models, APTA Private Practice has the resources and expert insights to help you stay ahead. From best practices to policy updates, we’re here to support you in securing fair, efficient payments so you can focus on what matters most – your patients.
March's Beyond the Treatment Table! Recorded live on March 27, 2025
Listen in on this a dynamic live discussion focused on payment strategies in physical therapy, featuring Mike Horsfield, Bob Hall, and Kelly Sanders from the Contracting for Smart PTs: Strategic Contracting Series. Explore key strategies, share practical tools, and engage in meaningful conversations with peers and professionals during this interactive session. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and refine your approach to payment in your practice!
Payer Negotiation
Contracting for Smart PTs: Strategic Contracting Series - This new on-demand series empowers you with the knowledge, tools, and resources to thoughtfully assess and independently determine which payer contracts you should negotiate. Module 1 and 2 are now available and free to ALL! Watch the video online or download the audio to listen on the go. Register now to access this valuable content, and stay tuned—registration for Modules 3–7 will open soon!
Payer Contracting for Physical Therapy - In this 90-minute webinar, take a deep dive into payer contracting. Develop an action plan for evaluating current contracts, understanding key terms that should be negotiated, understanding market conditions that create favorable conditions for negotiating, and steps to determine if a new contract is favorable or not.
State Payer Advocacy Resource Consortium
The State Payer Advocacy Resource Consortium is a collaborative endeavor between APTA, APTA Private Practice and APTA Orthopaedic to bring you new materials to help you succeed with payer advocacy in your state. Access the resources available to help you and your patients advocate against prior authorization, get model contract language and other contract negotiation tools, and find templates for appealing denials.
Need assistance? Our Senior Payment Consultant, Bob Hall, is available to assist APTA Private Practice members with questions and issues related to private payers. While he cannot provide legal advice, he can provide direction and resources to help you negotiate or resolve an issue. Email info@ppsapta.org to request support.
Out of Network / Alternative Revenue Streams
Check out the March issue of Impact for articles related to breaking up with an insurance company and finding alternative revenue through direct-to-employer services.
Annual Conference 2024 Recordings Bundle - Explore courses included in this bundle (see below) on going out of network and developing alternative revenue streams.
- Cash, Out of Network Participating, Oh My! The Journey of Starting Your Own PT Practice
- Navigating Out of Network Billing and Practice issues
- Innovate with Digital Health: Navigate Access, Maximize Revenue, and Improve Engagement
- Navigating the Value-Based Care Frontier: How to Thrive Financially and Clinically in this Era!
- Navigating Direct-to-Employer Healthcare: A Comprehensive Guide
The Direct-to-Employer Services Designation Program empowers physical therapists to contract directly with employers or employer groups, helping you build a sustainable new business model. Along with valuable education, those who complete the course have access to the Designated Providers Directory, showcasing your expertise to potential employer clients, and marketing materials you can co-brand for your practice and share with prospective employer clients.
Medicare/Medicaid
2025 Outpatient Therapy Regulatory and Payment Updates - Available to APTA Private practice members only, this online course addresses new, revised and deleted CPT codes that became effective on January 1, 2025, the status of outpatient therapy delivered via telehealth, and supervision requirements of a physical therapist assistant in the outpatient setting.
APTA State Medicaid Payment Rate Guide - The APTA State Medicaid Payment Rate Guide is a member-only benefit that offers information on the Medicaid fee-for-service payment rates for PT services provided by state Medicaid programs. The guide includes payment rates for selected CPT codes used by PTs under states' Medicaid programs as well as links to the Medicaid manuals for all 51 U.S. jurisdictions.
Other Payment Resources
Visit the Payment Resources page of the APTA Private Practice website to find materials on the Value of Physical Therapy, Payer Contracts, and Digital Health.
Subscribe to the Payment Blog to receive updates as they are posted.
Revenue Cycle Management online course - The revenue cycle is the collection of all clinical and administrative processes, policies, and training put together in a coordinated effort to accomplish fair payment for the practice. The revenue cycle starts at the first point of contact a patient has with your practice through the collection of intake information until the patient has been discharged and their bill is paid in full.
Catch up on essential payment strategies with our on-demand recordings in the Learning Center. Explore expert insights and practical tools at your convenience, and gain the knowledge to optimize reimbursement, streamline contracting, and strengthen your practice’s financial health.
Impact Magazine
Dive deeper into Payment with curated articles from Impact Magazine. Watch your mail for the March issue in print, or go online to read today!
“This month, Impact is bringing the blues—but the good kind. Our Rhythm & Blues theme dives into the nuts and bolts of payment strategies to help you keep your practice financially strong, prepared, and thriving. Because let’s face it, payment is often where the proverbial rubber meets the road in private practice. And while it’s not the most exciting topic, it’s a rhythm you must master to keep your business humming.” - Impact Editor Liz Plowman, PT, DPT
Explore the Impact Magazine archives for many more impactful articles. Use the built-in search functionality to search the entire publication by keyword or view suggested articles on the January Focus page.
State Payer Advocacy Resource Consortium (SPARC)
The American Physical Therapy Association, Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and APTA Private Practice are collaborating to bring you new materials to help you succeed with payer advocacy in your state. These resources are being provided as part of a joint initiative, the State Payer Advocacy Resource Consortium (SPARC).
The work of the Payment Consortium encompasses everything from direct one-on-one aid for solo practices to overarching support to improve national payer policy. We have produced actionable resources to help you improve the bottom line of your practice and stand ready to assist members in reaching all your advocacy goals. Talk to your state chapter to get engaged in advocacy, or contact APTA Advocacy or APTA Private Practice to lend a helping hand with your advocacy efforts.