Hi Redge, There is information about the PT Direct Access bill on AOTA's webpage. Since so many listmembers are interested I will post the full text to the summary. In response to an RA resolution, our efforts have focused on providing state associations with resources to refine state referral requirements. Most states do have "direct access" to OT, but some have physician referral requirements. In those states that have referral requirements we are seeking exceptions to the rule for certain areas of practice. We are also seeking to broaden the list of practitioners that may refer to OT.
Chuck AOTA State Affairs Group ************ http://www.aota.org/members/area1/links/link24.asp?PLACE=/members/area1/links/link24.asp PT Direct Access Bill The Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act of 2001 (H.R. 3363), introduced on November 28, 2001, would eliminate the requirement for a physician referral for outpatient physical therapy services under Part B of the Medicare program. The bill separates speech-language-pathology services from physical therapy in the definition section in Medicare. It also expands the language in section 1861(g), making no changes to current law but simply unlinking occupational therapy's definition from the definition of physical therapy in 1861(p). The definition of occupational therapy in 1861(g) has always been written as simply substituting "occupational therapy" for the words "physical therapy" in that paragraph. This new approach would substitute full definitions of occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services in separate paragraphs. AOTA is working with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) to clarify overall intent and to assure that the bill does no harm to occupational therapy under Medicare. AOTA is pursuing its own direct access initiative under direction from the AOTA Representative Assembly, requiring that resources be developed and shared with state associations to expand levels of direct access under state occupational therapy practice acts where state laws may inhibit expansion into community-based and other emerging practice arenas. The State Affairs Group has taken the lead on this effort, providing lobbying and technical assistance to state associations wishing to pursue efforts in this area. >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 11/11/02 12:58PM >>> Greetings Colleagues, I have been following with great interest the strategy of the physical therapy community in moving toward the entry level DPT and submitting legislation to Congress for direct access and potentially prescriptive authority for physical therapists. I haven't heard much concern raised in the OT community or in AOTA about the risks of this to our profession. While I don't generally support OTs always chasing the PTs this one has me on edge. If the physical therapists gain direct access and no longer require physician 30 day certification for Part B services, they will have a direct line on access to this population. If you were a referring physician, whom would you rather have treat your outpatients? A discipline which could directly manage your patient for you with little or no requirement on your part, or a discipline that required you to continue to follow your patient actively every 30 days, read and sign 30 day recertification notes, and be held accountable for the intensity of treatment provided by the discipline? My guess is that physiatrists would feel threatened and would rather maintain the close contact with patients, which would benefit OT's. My guess is that virtually every other referring specialty physician would rather just refer to PT. The result would be a significant hit on OT access to Part B patients and further increases in scope of practice challenges as PT's step further into the functional skills arena. As I see it, we need to have a direct professional response to this by either requiring this change to be effective for all rehab ancillaries or we need to vigorously oppose this legislation at the national level as a threat to patient access to OT services. Is this on anyone's radar screen? Redge L Campbell MS OTR/L Director of Rehabilitation Services Harrison Hospital Bremerton, WA 98310 360.792.6531 *********«************ Unsubscribe? Send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message's *body*, put the following text: unsubscribe OTlist ** List messages are archived at: http://www.mail-archive.com/otlist@;otnow.com *********«************ *********®©*********** Unsubscribe? Send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message's *body*, put the following text: unsubscribe OTlist ** List messages are archived at: http://www.mail-archive.com/otlist@;otnow.com *********®©***********
