Listening Time — 31:01
Listen on Apple Listen on Castbox Listen on Spotify
In this episode, Alice Bell, PT, DPT, senior specialist, health policy and payment, is joined by Wanda Evans, PT, DPT, MHS, senior specialist, health policy and payment, to discuss how APTA advocacy led to Aetna’s decision to provide unrestricted direct access to physical therapist services. Bell and Evans recap the near decade worth effort by APTA staff to move the needle and ultimately deliver this significant win for the profession.
This episode also features insights from APTA Senior Specialist PAC and Grassroots Laura Keivel, who shares tips and best practices for making the most out of August’s Congressional recess – and all of your interactions with elected officials. Don’t miss this fascinating episode on the importance of relationship-building and advocacy in advancing the profession.
After listening to the episode, visit these resources to learn more:
- APTA Advocacy Leads to Direct Access for Millions Covered by Aetna
- Advocacy Update | How to Take Action While Congress Is Home
- Register for APTA’s webinar series for more expert insights: APTA Regulatory, Legislative, and Payment Updates
- Contact advocacy@apta.org to learn more about how you can advocate for the profession.
Our Speakers
Alice Bell, PT, DPT, is a senior specialist, health policy and payment at APTA. She is a board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy. Her professional activities include serving as a member of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Technical Expert Panel for Skilled Nursing Alternative Payment Systems, APTA staff representative for the CPT Editorial Panel, and more.
Wanda K. Evans, PT, DPT, MHS, is a senior payment specialist at APTA. Her responsibilities include communicating with members and insurers on inquiries regarding third-party, billing, CPT coding, and payment policies; providing resources in policy development; monitoring trends; and assisting in association efforts to advance payment policies.
Laura Keivel is the grassroots and political affairs specialist at APTA. Before joining the association in 2019, she was the advocacy program and events manager at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, where ran the society’s largest event, the Leadership Summit & Lobby Day legislative fly-in.