APTAnj News Feed

APTA Offers 2 New Podcasts on CPT & Coding

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A new podcast titled "CPT and Coding: What’s This All About?" provides an overview of the process for creating new CPT codes, the roles of the CPT editorial panel and CPT editorial panel workgroups, and the typical timeline for getting codes approved and published.

What happens after a CPT code has been created is addressed in a companion podcast , "The RUC Process: How Codes are Valued for Medicare Payment." The podcast explains how the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale affects reimbursement and explores the challenges of the Relative Value Update Committee (RUC) review process in reaching consensus on payment for new codes.

Both podcasts highlight APTA's participation in the coding and RUC processes.

FREE 30-minute Medicare Teleconference

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2010 - FREE 30-Minute "Lunch & Learn" Teleconference on elevated error rates RE: therapy documentation related to plan of care/signature requirements.

There is NO pre-registration required however, phone slots are LIMITED, so you need to dial in early!

To participate in this lunch time teleconference, dial 1-888-276-8689 and enter participant code 487794 when prompted. We request that you dial-in 5 minutes prior to the teleconference start time. If the call has reached attendee capacity you will hear the message "conference is full".

The ACTUAL START TIME is 12 NOON...BUT you need to dial-in at least 5 minutes prior to the teleconference start time (i.e., no later than 11:55 AM Eastern) . If the call has reached attendee capacity you will hear the message "conference is full".

Physical Therapy Plan of Care 08/05/2010 12:00-12:30 PM

For handout materials, click here and look for the topic of interest.

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).

I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow... LAP Roles

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"I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow."

- Woodrow Wilson (NJ’s only President of the United States)

Did you ever wonder how things “really” get done in Trenton or on Capitol Hill? Ok, we know what you’re thinking...after all, we live and work in Jersey, too...please resist the urge to be cynical!

The last few months have been tumultuous when it comes to the future of healthcare in America. Whether you agree with what’s happened or not, it’s a safe bet that things for our profession are about to undergo significant change. As most experts and pundits agree, the next twelve months represent one of the most important windows to influence that change, whether it be in Washington, DC or Trenton.

You Reap What You Sow

As with any change, there will be winners AND losers-- those who see the opportunities and seize the day, and those who just bury their heads and wonder, “Is this really happening?”

Through its advocacy efforts, the American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey (APTAnj) has put in place the solid infrastructure required to influence the legislative process and ensure the profession’s future is safeguarded. However with big changes come big challenges. If we are to be a big player and ultimately a big winner NOW is the time to bolster our influence. This takes time, energy, knowledge and money no doubt, but most importantly, this takes PEOPLE: focused, organized, passionate people like YOU!

We are excited to share some new opportunities that APTAnj has to offer so that YOU can play a role on our growing team of advocates. Never done this kind of thing before? No worries. Experience is nice, but it’s passion for the profession that really counts. We invite you to seize this opportunity to get things done and put your mark on the future of our profession starting NOW.

Below is a list of 7 roles APTAnj has added to our expanding Legislative Advisory Panel (LAP)…some require a minimal effort (5-10 min/week), while others are far more active with greater opportunities to learn and develop your legislative expertise. Reap the benefits of growing your network, enhancing your level of professionalism, and planting the seeds of advocacy for physical therapy. Let us know how you can best share your passion as an APTAnj member.

Legislative Advisory Panel Co-Chairs--

Sandra Holbrook, PT

Matt Holbrook, PT

American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey

Legislative Advisory Panel

LAP Co-Chairs: Sandra Holbrook, PT & Matthew Holbrook, PT

COD Liaison: Director of Government Relations - Keri Bratcher, PT

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 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)

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)

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).

The acronym “PT PLAN” stands for “Physical Therapy Professional Legislative Action Network ” which is the name of the Political Action Committee (PAC) of the American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey (APTAnj).

PT PLAN is a state PAC fund that is registered with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) as a Continuing Political Committee (CPC).

Contributions to PT PLAN or any other PAC fund are not tax deductible.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) located in Alexandria, Virginia has a federal PAC fund named “PT PAC” that is not affiliated with PT PLAN.

Working With Insurers: Silent PPOs

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Before entering an agreement with a PPO, consult this new APTA resource titled Silent Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO). The PDF document is found on the Working With Insurers page on the national APTA.org website. It is a 3-page documents that offers information on what physical therapists should consider before signing a PPO contract.

Bloom's Taxonomy/Learning Objectives

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

PIP Fee Schedule

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On August 10, 2009 the State of New Jersey's Appellate Division ruled in favor of the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) fee schedule. This new fee schedule, which replaces the previous fee schedule from 1997, had been sitting in legal limbo for the last two years after the Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) made it effective in late 2007. The key changes to the fee schedule, which physical therapists should be aware of are as follows:

1) the daily maximum allowance for therapy services increases from $90.00 to $99.00 per day

2) the codes subject to the daily maximum allowance are 97012, G0283, 97016, 97018, 97020, 97022, 97024, 97026, 97028, 97032, 97033, 97034, 97035, 97036, 97110, 97112, 97124, 97140, 97150, 97530, 98925, 98926, 98927, 98928, 98940, 98941, 98942, 98943

3) CPT 97026 is the appropriate code for billing cold and low powered laser therapy

4) G0283 is the appropriate code for billing unattended electrical stimulation and replaces CPT 97014

5) The fee schedule is effective for dates of service August 10, 2009 and after.

2009-2010 Educational Series - CALL FOR SPEAKERS

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American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey

2009-2010 Educational Series - CALL FOR SPEAKERS

The American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey (APTAnj) Programming Committee is soliciting proposals for educational programs for our 2009-2010 Educational Series held at the APTAnj executive office in Robbinsville. Programming will also be considered for our Chapter Business Meetings and Annual Conferences.

If you or someone you know has information to share relating to the practice of physical therapy, or expertise in any area of interest to physical therapists and/or physical therapist assistants, please submit a proposal for consideration for the 2009-2010 Educational Series.

Decisions on acceptance of proposals for 2009-2010 are on going. All material for APTAnj-sponsored educational programs that are to award credits for Continuing Professional Education must be reviewed and approved by the APTAnj Programming Committee. Final approval for course material and speakers needs to occur a minimum of 6 – 12 months prior to the presentation date in order to allow adequate time to promote each program. A member of the Programming Committee will contact you if your proposal will be considered. Proposals are currently reviewed on an ongoing basis and are kept on file for two years.