Submitted on Thu, 10/31/2019 - 00:00

Private Practice Section Recent Committee Accomplishments (June 2018 through July 2019)

EDUCATION (PPS Education Committee)

Peer2Peer NetWorks

Designed around the “mastermind” principle, Peer2Peer NetWorks brings together private practice owners of similar, non-competitive practices to share best practices, discuss hot topics, establish key metric benchmarks, analyze operations, build life-long friendships, and work toward helping each other improve the bottom line. Now in its fourth year, the program has grown to 159 members. PPS is now taking sign-ups for the 2020 class. Apply here

KPI Benchmarking Study 

Now in its fourth year, the PPS Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Benchmarking Study is open to all PPS members. The study results paint a clear picture of how participants’ KPI metrics stack up against similar practices in each region and nationwide. In 2019, the study had 178 practice owners participating. Register now to join the 2020 study.

Education Committee

The Education Committee has developed two new video series to add to the Private Practice Essentials, which are offered free to PPS Members. Two new series will complement the three popular series already available.

The new series will be available in January. To view the current Private Practice Essentials, visit the PPS Learning Center.

HR 101

Presented by:

Paul J. Welk, PT, JD, and Albert Lee

Tucker Arensberg

 

Operations 201

Presented by:

Mike Osler, PT, DPT and Eric Sacia PT

Rock Valley Physical Therapy

 

The Business Education Leadership Task Force is working to develop a curriculum that PT schools can use as part of course work required for accreditation. The curriculum would help PT schools cover fundamental business principles, and could be used by schools and by Private Practice members serving as adjunct faculty.

The Education Committee continues to work to inform new PPS members on the resources available to them within the section, and to maximize members’ engagement in the Section.

LOBBYING (GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE)

PPS continues to drive legislative change through proactive lobbying and grassroots efforts. Initiatives through FY 2019 and into FY 2020 include the following:

  • Filed a comment letter with CMS in opposition to the proposed 8% cut to payment in 2021 which explained the negative impact its proposals would have on private practice physical therapists and Medicare beneficiaries; used the September 2019 PPS Fly-In to facilitate a bipartisan letter to CMS from 55 Representatives who strongly opposed the proposed 8% cut. 
  • Utilized member feedback to write a comment letter to CMS that challenged the application of the PTA differential onto physical therapist time; asked legislators sitting on healthcare committees to tell CMS that its proposed rule regarding the PTA differential was beyond their legislative intent.
  • Continued to pursue the expansion of the locum tenens provision of Medicare to include physical therapists practicing all communities.
  • PPS filed a response to CMS’ RFI re: Reducing Administrative Burden to Put Patients over Paperwork and pointed out that as small business owners, PPS members are keenly aware when an administrative task is burdensome and duplicative and that time spent on redundant paperwork is time they are not able to be caring for patients.  PPS recommendations included revising the initial certification requirement for the therapy plan of care, suggesting that CMS include physical therapists within the list of practitioners for whom CMS has established an effective date of Medicare billing privileges, and reducing administrative burden through standardization where possible.
  • Addressed physical therapy workforce issues including cost of education; pursue federal programs to reduce student loan burden and support legislation that promotes the use of physical therapist services as non-pharmacological treatment options in response to the opioid crisis. This included testimony by PPS President Sandy Norby before the House Small Business Committee in June 2019 about the negative impact of student loan burden upon physical therapists who seek to work or open clinics in health professional shortage areas, and how access to physical therapist services can provide non-pharmacological treatment options for pain management. 

Impact (the Impact Editorial Board)

The Impact Editorial Board plans the annual editorial calendar and recruits new and returning authors to deliver the quality content readers have come to expect. The Board uses feedback from Impact readership surveys and input from member satisfaction surveys and other data collected by PPS.

During FY2019, PPS built upon the successes of FY2018 by continuing outreach and engagement efforts across social media, which in turn have played an important role in driving traffic to Impact online. Unique users of Impact online grew 23.7% compared to last year, and total page views grew 24.8%. The most popular magazine issues included “Why Physical Therapy Should Embrace TeleHealth” (May 2019), “4 Things You Need to Know About MIPS” (January 2019), “Patient Engagement” (March 2019), “How to Calculate and Increase Staff Productivity” (April 2019). 

PPS Administrator’s Network (PPS Administrator’s Network Council)

The Administrators Network exists to improve the operational excellence of the PPS member clinics’ administrative functions. The Network also offers high-value education to administrators who are employed in PT private practice settings.  In addition to the exclusive Administrators Certificate Program and webinar series, the volunteer Administrator’s Network Council appoints liaisons to four different PPS program areas and to the Impact Magazine Editorial Board, to ensure that administrators’ interests are reflected across the spectrum of  PPS activities.

Advancing Payment Policy for Members (PPS Payment Policy Committee)

 A suite of resources provides members guidance through the complicated payment environment via the PPS Website

They include:

  • Level 1, designed to educate member therapists on the landmark 2018 Milliman study
  • Level 1B, customizable slide deck on the value of PT, suitable for presentation to payers
  • Level 2 Milliman slide deck with a deep dive of Milliman study details.
  • Level 3 Milliman Powerpoint presented at 2019 Annual Conference: Analyze and Market Your Practice for Value-Based Care and APM’s

Additional online resources for members include the following:

  • Model Contract Checklist for managed care provider agreements
  • A just-completed  FAQ, “Medicare Advantage Billing Rules,” regarding out of network and cash-based delivery of physical therapy,is a ready resource for PTs. The FAQ is being presented at the 2019 Annual Conference and will be available online soon .           
  • Also coming soon: the webinar, “Best Practices for PT Businesses to Prepare for Value Based Care”
  • As part of an effort to monitor the development of dry needling CPT code available for use in 2020, members should look for an upcoming Impact article on the topic.

The Graham Sessions (Institute of Private Practice Physical Therapy)

The Institute of Private Practice Physical Therapy hosted the 13th Annual Graham Sessions in Austin, TX in February 2019. Close to 150 participants attended.

The 14th Annual Graham Sessions is set for January 23-25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. For more information, contact info@ppsapta.org

The Institute Board is considering hosting a regional version of the Graham Sessions called “Graham X.” The vision of Graham X consists of an “independently organized” Graham Sessions event, designed to keep all the elements that have made the Graham Sessions a success but on a localized basis. 

PPS Contributions to the Annual APTA Components and Sections Meeting (CSM Program Working GROUP)

At 2019’s APTA CSM, PPS held a one-day pre-conference workshop, “Kickstarting Your Private Practice.” PPS also held 11 conference educational sessions, and co-sponsored 3 sessions with other sections. The PPS member reception hosted current and prospective members with close to 200 attendees. 

For the 2020 CSM, PPS is offering 3 one-day pre-conference workshops, with topics on Starting a Private Practice, Social Media, and Billing and Coding. The Section is also holding 11 conference educational sessions, and co-sponsoring 4 more sessions with other sections. The ever-popular member reception will again be offered at the 2020 CSM.