January 19, 2008

Meeting commenced at 8:37

 

I.                   Minutes from Fall conference read

One concern arose from Kathy Blair regarding language House of Delegates has used regarding PTA’s practice.  HOD holds the position that PTA’s should not perform sharps debridement nor should they do manual therapy.  The concern is over the term “manual therapy” and precluding PTA’s from this scope of practice.  Although this is the position of HOD, it is not in statutes.  Lynda Brown will send to Kathy Blair the specific wording for clarification.

 

II.                President’s Report (Norene Christensen)

A.    Medicare Cap

1.      is set at $1810 per year

2.      the diagnosis exceptions process will only be good through June 2008 at which time it will be eliminated

3.      it will be important to keep in contact with legislators regarding the cap and the exceptions process

4.      PTs are now able to do re-certifications every 90 days rather than at 60 days and every 30 days thereafter

5.      PQRI (Physician Quality Reporting Initiative) will be on Jan 30, 2008 2:00 to 2:30 EST and you may register on-line at the APTA website

B.     Student Loan Repayment Program

1.      student loan repayment is available to PT’s that practice in underserved areas

2.      the WYPTA can send letters to the legislators in underserved counties regarding this repayment program

3.      Eligibility Requirements

·         students in PT program going to underserved area

·         PT’s re-locating to underserved area

·         Work force specialists

4.      Jeff Hopkins and Norene Christensen are asking for information about areas/counties in WY that are underserved by PT’s

C.     The end of the meeting will be an update on changes to the WY Physical Therapy Practice Act provided by Tori Rosenthal, Nannette Brown, and Kathy Blair

III.             Vice President’s Report (given by Norene Christensen as Ken Clouston is out of town)

A.    Fall Conference

1.      Will be October 11 – 12 in Casper, WY

2.      Differential Diagnosis by Gail Deyle will be one of the courses (differential diagnosis has been chosen as one of the topics because the restrictions related to direct access are being removed in the changes to the WY PT Practice Act)

3.      Functional Exercise Program Progression by Randy Hite may be one of the other topics as the WYPTA is making certain PTA’s will have a course to attend (this may also be open to OTs)

4.      Will probably not have vendors this year as there was a poor turnout of vendors last year.  WYPTA will have round table discussions instead on topics such as reimbursement, the changes to the practice act, athletic trainers and massage therapist licensing

IV.             Treasurer’s Report (Kelsey Kean)

A.    balance is $9,622.54 checking and CD $5,378.61

B.     awaiting deposit of $3,000 from the APTA from the negotiated fee from the fall conference speaker

C.     Inflows:

1.      dues:  $8,999.00  (up $870 from 2006)

2.      continuing education grant:  $4,000 from the State

3.      pending from APTA: $3,000

4.      silent auction: $252 (down by $959 in 2006)

D.    Outflows:

1.      sending 3 to house of delegates: biggest expense at 5447.22

2.      executive secretary wages: $3,750 (up by $1,129)

3.      fall conference: $3,116.86 up by $1,671

4.      board meetings: $2,212.85  decrease of $1,461.01

 

V.                Delegate Report

A.    No report since there has been no delegate activity since the fall conference

B.     Delegates will be going to CSM in Nashville, TN in February

VI.             Committee Reports

A.    Membership

1.      goal of increasing membership by 10% in 2007 was met and surpassed

2.      a membership drive by mail was done in the fall

B.     Nomination

1.      seeking nominations for the fall election

2.      positions up for election are secretary and treasurer

C.     Finance

1.      see above treasurer’s report for details of budget

2.      Pam Mills of Casper is willing to help on Finance Committee

3.      WYPTA’s 12 month CD is renewable March 22, 2008

4.      committee is looking into high interest account with low minimum balance so the funds will not be tied up in an account

5.      Norene Christensen is willing to donate to the WYPTA the profits from continuing education program she is hosting in Jackson

6.      Concern about Pam Mills serving on committee were addressed and it was determined that there is no conflict of interest to serve on the licensing board and being a member to the finance committee

D.    Legislative

1.      Athletic Trainer’s Bill will be re-introduced using the same bill that was the final bill from last year

2.      ATC’s are waiting for a sponsor

3.      Massage therapy bill may be brought forward

·         this may not happen

·         a survey is being sent statewide to massage therapists about licensure

·         reportedly 2/3 of massage therapists are interested in pursuing licensure but nothing has been done so far

E.     Reimbursement

1.      Kathy Blair attended course about reimbursement

2.      Jamie Wild and Kathy Blair are meeting to discuss reimbursement topics

3.      A Member’s Only section is going to be created on the WYPTA website to allow WYPTA members access to various links related to re-imbursement

4.      Many insurance companies are sending out applications for PT practices to have contracts for re-imbursement – overall these have been quite unfavorable in regards to reimbursement for PT services

5.      the 0.5% Medicare cap increase will last until June 2008.  There had been intentions to cut Medicare reimbursement by 10.1% for PT services.           

·         in June the legislators may consider implementing a 10.5% cut in reimbursement to compensate for the temporarily increased cap

·         there could be even more massive cuts to reimbursement over time

·         keep in contact with legislators – anyone can contact legislators and form letters are available on the APTA website for PTs, PTA’s and patients

VII.          Old Business

A.    Advertising Grant

1.      deadline changed to Feb 1, 2008

2.      $5,000 is available for WYPTA if approved

3.      funds will be used toward promoting community relations and PT practice

B.     Website

1.      early in the change process with some changes implemented

2.      beginning work on Member’s Only section with access limited to WYPTA members

3.      changing the fees for job advertising has not yet been implemented – the executive board has suggested that a higher fee be charged to non-WYPTA members for flying ads for jobs

VIII.       New Business

A.    Key contact for Federal Affairs Forum is needed

1.      Kelsey Kean is going to attend Federal Affairs in Washington DC.  It will be held March 30 through April 1, 2008

2.      Kelsey Kean and Jason Kamm attended last year

3.      Kelsey is looking for any interested persons with air fare and ½ of the lodging costs covered by the WYPTA

4.      Scott Phister was suggested by Lynda Brown

5.      Jason Kamm is also interested in going again this year

B.     Practice Act Update (presented by Nanette Brown, Tori Rosenthal, and Kathy Blair)

1.      Why WY PT practice act is being changed

·         for more clear interpretation, use, and to become more precise

·         to clear up confusing language

·         to remove contradictions

·         updating to be more in alignment with the Federal State Board (FSBPT) recommendations from 2003

·         bring terminology up to date

2.      Licensure changes

·         Continuing Education Units will be required to renew licenses

·         Using CEU’s requirements from other states as a template for WY’s CEU requirements along with manner in which the CEU’s will be tracked

·         Re-licensure date is being changed to Oct. 1 to move it away from the holidays

·         Renewing license will require an application, a fee, continuing education credits (proof of competence)

3.      Language changes (some examples)

·         “Human Beings”  is changed to “Individuals” to allow PTs to practice with animals

·         “Registration” has been changed to “certification” as the word certification indicates a higher level of involvement than simply filling out a registration form

·         The word “physiotherapist” is being incorporated

·         Changing the definition of Physical Therapist Assistant and what they do

·         Removing all language referring to athletic trainers

·         Removing provisions for direct access

4.      Licensing Board Changes

·         removing the MD from the board as they are difficult to recruit and may have conflict of interest

·         increasing the re-imbursement to licensing board members so it is the same as state legislators

5.      “Katrina” Provisions

·         PTs that are displaced from their state due to natural disasters may practice in WY for 60 days

·         If a natural disaster occurs in WY, out of state PTs may come to our state to administer aid

6.      Action to be taken by WYPTA regarding changes to WY PT Practice Act

a.       Divide state into regions with an individual assigned to coordinate activities for their region

b.      Town meetings with other PTs will be needed

c.       Meeting with legislators will be necessary

d.      The WYPTA legislative committee will meet with the Wyoming Medical Society about practice act changes

e.       Meet with OT’s, ATC’s, massage therapists, and others that will be supportive of the changes to the PT practice act

f.       Gather sponsors for the bill

 

Meeting Ended at 9:47

 

Announcements

1.  Tanya Smith and Terri Neal are starting a journal club.  The date will be announced with the first meeting in March.  Tanya and Terri are looking into video-conferencing to make this available statewide.  Contact Tanya at tanyarunns@yahoo.com or at work at 307-367-6236 or Terri at jtbneal@yahoo.com or at work at 307-276-3050  for more details.