Legislation to improve patient access to physical therapist services in Texas took an important step on Thursday, April 11, when Texas HB 1039, Patient Access to Physical Therapy, was considered in the Texas House Committee on Public Health. Texas Chapter members provided excellent oral testimony to the committee in support of the legislation, including physical therapists Michael Connors, PT, DPT, OCS, Cynthia Fisher, PT, DPT, MS, PCS, Nick Patel, PT, DPT, CSCS, CCP, Mike Geelhoed, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC, Jennifer Kish, PT, DPT, SCS, Kathleen Manella, PT, PhD, Matt Walk, PT, FAAOMPT, Allan Besselink, PT, Dip.MDT, Ben Keene, PT, OCS, FAAOMPT, and Jarod Carter, PT.
Opposition testimony to HB 1039 was provided by the Texas Orthopaedic Association and a physical therapist employed in a physician-owned clinic. The Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine also provided testimony against the bill, expressing concern about the ability of physical therapists to perform dry needling.
Improving patient access in the Lone Star state has been an important goal for the Texas Chapter.
The legislation awaits action by the House Public Health Committee; the deadline for house bills to be reported out by house committees is Monday, May 6. Meanwhile, the chapter is also advocating for House Bill 2357 and Senate Bill 1099, legislation that would provide title protection for the doctor of physical therapy (DPT) and master of physical therapy (MPT). The senate bill passed the Texas Senate on Thursday, April 18; the house version has passed through committee and is awaiting a vote by the Texas House.
That's a shame that a PT testified against this bill. However, the shame I see is that the only other qualifying information listed is that s/he is employed in a physician-owned clinic, along with the assumption that this PT must not be an APTA member. I am the director for two physician-owned clinics and believe that this is the best environment in which I have ever worked. IF you have a clue about fee schedules and reimbursement these days, you would know that a PT clinic that provides optimum patient care is NOT the most profitable endeavor in which a physician could invest. The only way for a clinic to be unreasonably profitable is to run a patient mill where techs run pts through exercises or other substandard care is provided. Clearly, that is something that is determined by the treating/supervising therapist and NOT the owner (physician or otherwise). The doctors who own my clinics, as well as the PAs with whom we work, consistently demonstrate a level of care that undeniably shows their interest in the well-being of their pts, not their bank accounts. I do realize that there are POPs where this is not the case; for that, I am very sad. In the same light, there are therapist-owned clinics or corporate clinics in which such poor care is delivered that pts do not receive what they need and in many cases are actually worse upon leaving the clinic. Our profession is under attack from so many angles at this moment in history; the last thing we need is to turn on each other, especially in generalizing an entire group by one person's actions. I am a huge advocate of direct access to a QUALIFIED physical therapist. Being an APTA member, working or not working in any given setting, or having a brand-new clinical doctorate hanging on the wall does not necessarily make one a good therapist. I respect those who go the extra mile on a daily basis to provide nothing less than the absolute best and most appropriate care to each of their patients. If that therapist works in a POP, doesn't have an APTA membership, and has been working for 19+ years with their BSPT and a wealth of clinical knowledge, that's still the therapist I want treating pts. Hopefully enough "good" therapists can make a difference and turn our profession around and lobby for the changes we need to help it grow to its true potential. We have such a unique body of knowledge and skill set; if we can promote that in an unassuming, humble yet confident manner, maybe we can one day have full direct access, in every state, under every payer.
Posted by Tiffany Bendure -> BHUc=F
on 4/23/2013 2:49 PM