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Telehealth shouldn't be for emergencies only.
The COVID-19 pandemic is making it clear: the use of telehealth by PTs and PTAs is not only appropriate, but effective in delivering effective care and expanding patient access to that care. Telehealth in physical therapy shouldn't be an emergency-only option.
Why It Matters
It's all about patient access. Telehealth provided by PTs and PTAs has been proven to produce good outcomes with little to no patient risk. Members of the physical therapy profession are trained to understand when telehealth is appropriate, and the technologies to support telehealth at both the patient and provider ends are easy to acquire.
Our Position
APTA strongly supports legislative and regulatory changes that permit PTs and PTAs to provide services via telehealth such as the Expanded Telehealth Access Act. This bipartisan bill permanently lists physical therapist and physical therapy assistants as authorized practitioners of telehealth under the Medicare program. The Public Health Emergency exemplified the need for patient choices when it comes to care. Now is the time to enact telehealth reforms.
Recommended Content
Mar 24, 2021 / Open Access
Access templated letters to advocate for maintaining telehealth policies for physical therapist services once the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.
Jun 7, 2020
Use of telehealth is rapidly expanding; make sure you know the requirements.
Nov 17, 2021 / Position Paper
This position paper outlines APTA's support of the Expanded Telehealth Access Act that would add PTs and PTAs in private practice, and facility-based outpatient therapy settings as permanent authorized providers of telehealth under the Medicare program.
Additional Telehealth Advocacy Content
Feb 8, 2023 / News
The association's public policy priorities are aimed at unleashing physical therapy's potential to take on pressing health care challenges.
Dec 20, 2022 / News
The omnibus package provides insufficient relief, but it does include several wins for the profession in other areas.
Nov 7, 2022 / Article
In this installment: remote monitoring, supervision, telehealth, skin substitutes, and chronic pain management.
Sep 20, 2022 / Roundup
Here's the status of APTA-supported legislation on the fee schedule, telehealth, prior authorization, the PTA differential, and more.
Sep 19, 2022 / Review
A systematic review involving more than 200,000 patients with a variety of conditions revealed consistently positive results for telerehab.
Sep 12, 2022 / News
To date, nine companies have pledged that PTs will be involved in any services promoted as physical therapy.
Aug 26, 2022 / Roundup
State advocates for the profession racked up some important wins this year. Here are highlights.
Aug 8, 2022 / Roundup
Advocacy by APTA and its members is paying off in some key ways.
Jul 11, 2022 / News
A cut to the conversion factor, no changes to telehealth limitations (but a few codes added), a tweak to RVUs, and more.
Mar 11, 2022 / News
The $1.5 trillion plan passed with bipartisan support. Here are three takeaways of interest to the physical therapy community.