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Time is Running out for Congressional Action on Caps and Cuts

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Less than 30 days remain for Congress to take action on the therapy cap exceptions process. The short term, 2 month fix that Congress passed in last minute legislation on December 23, 2011 is set to expire on February 29, 2012. It is critical that Congress pass new legislation to extend the therapy cap exceptions process and to avoid the scheduled 27.4% cut in provider payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule.

At the end of 2011, Congress voted to create a group of conferees to pass bipartisan legislation to fix the long fought SGR problem and many other expiring provisions. The current 2 month fix gave the conferees time to come to an agreement on a longer term package.
While APTA is working tirelessly with congressional offices on the Hill to protect the profession and our patients from these impending cuts, we need your help.

If the House and Senate cannot come to an agreement on a package before February 29 the therapy cap will go into effect without an exceptions process on March 1, 2012. Furthermore, a scheduled 27.4% cut to provider payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule will be implemented.

Reinforce this message by contacting your legislators today!

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Call your Members of Congress today. Call Capitol switchboard (202-224-3121) and ask for your legislator’s office. Once you are in touch with the office, ask for the staffer that handles healthcare policy and:
Once you are in touch with the office, ask for the staffer that handles healthcare policy and:

Express your support for full repeal of the SGR and the therapy cap
Express that, at the very least, Congress must pass a two-year extension of the therapy cap exceptions process as proposed in the original House bill; which saves money and creates a path to reform the therapy benefit long-term

KEEP YOUR COLLEAGUES INFORMED – Request that your colleagues call their congressional representatives and sign up for APTA’s Grassroots Network, PTeam. PTeam will be the main source of information for legislative updates and breaking news on the effort to pass legislation to extend the therapy cap exceptions process and avoid the 27.4% cut.
Thanks for your help in getting the message through to Congress!

Physical therapists serve a vital role in the overall management of concussion...

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Physical therapists serve a vital role in the overall management of concussion. Learn more about concussion. Listen to APTAnj member, Paul Vidal, PT discuss the pathophysiology of concussion and the role of physical therapy in concussion management on "Talking Alternative."

CLICK HERE to LISTEN.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey will require all health care professionals to use EFT in 2012.

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In 2012, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey will require all participating physicians and health care professionals to participate in Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).

All newly credentialed practitioners and groups will be required to register for EFT beginning in the first quarter of 2012.
All existing participating physicians, other health care professionals and group practices will be required to enroll in EFT no later than July 1, 2012.

Since 2009, Horizon offered EFT to make it easier for physicians, other health care professionals and group practices to do business with us.

The benefits of EFT include:

Reimbursements deposited directly into the physician’s account.
Improved cash flow by eliminating mail time and check float.
Elimination of bank fees for check deposits.
Reduction in paperwork and overall administrative costs.
Less opportunity for error or theft.
Elimination of paper checks to track deposits.

CLICK HERE for FAQ and to learn how to sign up.

Today?s Physical Therapist: A Comprehensive Review of a 21st Century Health Care Profession (advocacy material)

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The purpose and intent behind this compendium is to provide an effective tool to educate policymakers, payers, prospective students, and the public about the physical therapy profession.

Today’s Physical Therapist: A Comprehensive Review of a 21^st Century Health Care Profession pulls together various subject matters and issues about the physical therapy profession: from licensure and specialization to education and research, to the role of the PTA and payment for physical therapist services. This new publication provides readers with a ‘one-stop’ location to learn in depth about where we are as a profession, and where we are going in the 2st century.

Can You Lend a Hand? Legislative Advisory Panel - Job Descriptions

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All LAP participants must be current APTAnj members and need access to Email & Internet.

ROLE: Legislative Researcher
TEAM: 4 – 10 people
TASK1: Sign up for the New Jersey Legislature Bill Subscription Service at <http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillsSubscriptionLogin.asp> and read local newspapers in order to identify legislative bills in New Jersey that may effect the practice and profession of physical therapy and the patients/clients served by the profession. Report findings to Director of Government Relations.
TIME COMMITMENT: 5 minutes/week to check email [i.e., less than 30 minutes per month]

ROLE: Legislative Reviewer (on the job training available!)
TEAM: 4 – 10 people
TASK1: Review NJ legislative bills that have been identified to have potential impact on the profession of physical therapy and/or the patients & clients served by the profession. Bills will be forwarded by Director of Government Relations to team members for team members to read through and comment on by a prescribed date, to determine whether or not APTAnj should support, oppose or monitor bill.
TIME COMMITMENT: 60 - 90 minutes/month (approx. 10 months)

ROLE: PT PLAN Fundraiser Captain
TEAM: 1- 2 “Captains” [may split duties; one Captain for Spring Meeting & one for Fall Meeting]
TASK1: Plan and implement a fundraising activity for chapter’s Political Action Committee (PAC), i.e. PT PLAN, to be held 2x/year at the spring and fall chapter meetings. Job includes coordinating on-site volunteers for each activity, budgeting finances with APTAnj & PT PLAN Treasurers, and coordinating communication of activity to members with staff. Executive Director will be resource on New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC) regulations.
TIME COMMITMENT: 3- 5 hours /twice a year
Examples of past activities include:

“Witty” Name Badge Ribbon Sale (donate to PT PLAN to select a witty ribbon for one’s name badge worn at the meeting)
PT PLAN Supporter Stickers to identify anyone who makes an on-site donation to PT PLAN
Silent Auction for PT PLAN

ROLE: PT PLAN Phanatic

TEAM: 4 – 12 people

TASK1: Volunteer to man a PT PLAN table at APTAnj chapter & district meetings. Collect donations and submit all monies & PT PLAN contribution forms to PT PLAN Treasurer at chapter office.

TIME COMMITMENT: 2 hours a year (i.e., 1 event)

ROLE: Key Contact
TEAM: 2 – 6 people per legislative district in New Jersey (i.e., 40 districts)
TASK1: Write a letter to your 3 legislators (Senator & 2 Assemblypeople) introducing yourself.
TASK2: Set up a face-to-face meeting with at least 1 legislator in order to introduce yourself and educate your legislator about the physical therapy profession OR invite at least one of your NJ legislators to visit your physical therapy practice setting.
TASK3: When PT PLAN funds permit it, attend a legislator’s fundraising event.

TIME COMMITMENT: phone calls & email/30- 60 minutes per year; visiting with legislator 1 or 2 times per year@ 30 minutes; attend a legislator’s fundraising event/1 time per year for 45 – 90 minutes

ROLE: Physical Therapy Advocacy Champion (PT Advocacy Champ)

TEAM: 1- 3 people (preferably 1 person from each APTAnj District: North, Central & South)

TASK1: Travel to members’ practice setting to pitch the importance of advocating for the profession of physical therapy through APTA membership and donating to PT PLAN. For consistency, this will be a “canned” presentation developed and shared by all EAC.

TIME COMMITMENT: 1 hour- 6 times per year, plus travel time

ROLE: Legislative Events Coordinator
TEAM: 1 person- high level of responsibility that requires interaction with Director of Government Relations & Legislative Agent (i.e., Lobbyist).
TASK1: Using Key Contact list, coordinate a representative of APTAnj to attend legislators’ fundraising events that will be supported by PT PLAN. When necessary, staff may also assist LEC by culling a list of members from APTAnj database for LEC to contact to fulfill task.
TIME COMMITMENT: 30 – 60 minutes/month (approx. 10 months). Caveat: Notification of this task is often received on short notice (< 2 weeks).

Bloom's Taxonomy/Learning Objectives

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Click Here for additional details: Bloom's Taxonomy/Learning Objectives