Jul-29-2010
Ugent: Act now to stop the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from implementing devastating payment policy.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule June 25, 2010, that updates 2011 payment rates for physician services, outpatient physical therapy services, and other services. In the rule CMS proposes to implement a multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) policy that would result in significant reductions in payment for outpatient therapy services. Specifically, CMS proposes to make full payment for the therapy service or unit with the highest practice expense value and payment of 50% of the practice expense component for the second and subsequent procedures or units of the service furnished during the same day for the same patient. The work and malpractice components of the therapy service payment would not be reduced.

 

The proposed MPPR policy would apply to both the services paid under the physician fee schedule (PFS) that are furnished in the office setting (physical therapists in private practice and physicians), and those services paid at the PFS rates that are furnished by outpatient hospitals, home health agencies (Part B), skilled nursing facilities (Part B), comprehensive rehabilitation facilities, rehabilitation agencies, and other entities that are paid by Medicare for outpatient therapy services. CMS estimates that it would result in a decrease in payment for outpatient therapy services of approximately 12-13% in 2011. 

More Info: www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Medicare_Updates1&Te

Jul-22-2010
CMS released the proposed FY 2011 Home Health and SNF Rules

CMS released the proposed FY 2011 Home Health and SNF Rules on July 16, 2010. To
access the rules, go to the following link:

SNF Proposed Rule:
www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp

Home Health Proposed Rule:
www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp

 

Jul-14-2010
Deadline for the ABPTS Geriatric Specialist Certification is fast approaching

The application deadline for the ABPTS geriatric specialist certification examination is quickly approaching. The deadlines are as follows:

7/31/10 for certification; 8/31/10 for reapplication and 10/31/10 for recertification.

The examination timeframe is February 26-March 12, 2011.

The application and other information about the exam is available on the APTA website under professional development.

www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm

Please check out the geriatric section website for additional information, including information about mentors, resource lists for exam prep, courses related to geriatric physical therapist practice.

www.geriatricspt.org/gcs.cfm

There are many resources to assist you with test prep. Consider taking the SoG sponsored cont. Ed. Courses and CEEAA among other resources. The section GeriNotes publication and JGPT are also invaluable resources. The APTA learning center has online continuing educational courses and the section has several home studies that may be helpful as well.

Jun-30-2010
ExPAAC Pre-conference Programming

ExPAAC— Focus

 

This is an evidence based course covering current research and aging issues as related to each of the four

preferred practice patterns:

 

Musculoskeletal 

Neuromuscular 

Cardiopulmonary 

Integumentary

 

Common diagnoses, pharmacological interventions and implications for physical therapy will be addressed.

This course provides excellent instruction for physical therapists planning to sit for Geriatric Board Certification, physical therapy assistants pursuing Advanced Clinical proficiency, or any practitioner looking to improve his or her clinical skills with older adults.

 

Offered as a pre-course session, ExPAAC Focus is designed to bring physical therapists up to date on the aging process prior to participating in the ExPAAC conference.

 

This course may be taken separately for continuing education units or in conjunction with ExPAAC.

 

Registration deadline for ExPAAC Focus is July 26, 2010. Class size is limited, so register early!

• $125 for APTA Section on Geriatrics members
• $150 for non-members

 

 

More Info: Click here and register directly

Jun-21-2010
2010 Section / Foundation Matching Challenge Underway

 

 The Section on Geriatrics is ratcheting up efforts to encourage member contributions to its 2010 Matching Challenge for Foundation for Physical Therapy donations. Specifically, through December 31, 2010, the Section will match dollar for dollar member donations, totaling up to $50,000, to its Section on Geriatrics Fund at the Foundation for Physical Therapy. The Section plans to use monies donated and matched that are aligned with the temporarily restricted portion of the Section on Geriatrics Fund to support another aging / geriatrics-related research grant to be awarded in 2010.

 

The mission of the Foundation for Physical Therapy is to fund research that supports the development of evidence-based physical therapist practice, enhances the quality of physical therapist services for patients and clients, and increases the number of physical therapist researchers. The Geriatric Research Grant supports this mission by awarding one $40,000 grant to an emerging investigator to research methods of facilitating the translation of research into current physical therapy practice with aging adults.

 

Applications for this grant will be requested and reviewed by the Foundation later this summer. Applicants should seek to do one or more of the following: evaluate the clinical effectiveness of therapeutic interventions; assess the interaction between patient characteristics and therapeutic methods; explore the scientific basis for interventions used in physical therapy; and/or address a question identified in the APTA Clinical Research Agenda. Priority will be given to studies which: have direct application to the practice of physical therapy; address the need for measurable outcomes; ask a new question important to intervention or its validation; and/or address a previously asked question with a new methodology, different sampling strategy or a different form of analysis.

 

More Info: To donate, click here!

May-28-2010
EXPAND YOUR PROFESSIONAL HORIZONS!

Become a Board Certified Clinical Specialist. Applications for the 2011 exam cycle are now available!

 

The application deadline for Specialist Certification in Geriatric is July 31, 2010.

For more information, or to request an application, contact the Specialist Certification Program by phone at 800/999-2782, ext 8520; or by e-mail at spec-cert@apta.org.

 

Application forms and information are also available through the APTA website at www.apta.org/specialist_certification.

May-19-2010
Multidisciplinary Entry-Level Professional Competencies in the Care of Older Adults Released by the American Geriatrics Society

A set of core competencies that ten healthcare disciplines, including medicine, nursing and physical therapy, should have upon graduation from their entry-level professional degree programs, in order to provide quality care for older adults, was released last week at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS).  These competencies were developed by a workgroup of the Partnership for Health in Aging, a coalition of more than 20 organizations representing eldercare professions that the AGS first convened in 2008.  Section on Geriatric’s president John O. Barr, PT, PhD, was a member of the workgroup, while members Rita Wong, PT, EdD, and Dale Avers, PT, DPT, PhD, served as APTA reviewers.  The APTA is one of 28 organizations that have formally endorsed these competencies.  The complete competencies document, including further background information and related definitions, can be found at this link.
These competencies are intentionally broad, in order to provide a baseline for geriatrics and gerontology training by a range of disciplines involved in the care of older adults  Each discipline will need to determine how the competencies will be incorporated into and taught by their training programs, and measured by their accreditation and licensing organizations.  The Section’s Retooling Taskforce will be doing further work on implementation of these competencies by the physical therapy profession.  Both new graduates and experienced physical therapists and physical therapist assistants should consider reviewing these competencies as a means of self-assessment and as a stimulus for professional development.

More Info: Download Here