APTQI Applauds Legislation to Extend the Use of Locum Tenens Arrangements
Disruptions in care when a patient’s primary physical therapist is unavailable can cause delays in rehabilitative care and recovery. Currently, Medicare only pays for services provided by a substitute physical therapist if the population served is rural, medically underserved, or in a health professional shortage area. Arrangements known as ‘locum tenens’ by Medicare allow for…
APTQI Member Confluent Health Presents Documentary Feature: Pain, Misunderstood
With a vision to unpack the myths and truths surrounding chronic pain experiences in the U.S., APTQI member Confluent Health released a documentary featuring patient stories of chronic pain and their physical therapists who are helping them treat, manage, and overcome it. Pain, defined as unpleasant sensory and emotional experiences one gets resulting from an…
Low Medicare Reimbursement Rates Driving Provider Shortage and Negative Outcomes, Study Finds
A recent issue brief published by the Pacific Research Institute’s Center for Medical Economics and Innovation by Dr. Wayne Winegarden highlights growing concerns about low Medicare reimbursement and the impact of inflation-adjusted physician pay on patient care. “This undercompensating is leading doctors to leave the profession, dissuading medical students from entering the field, and contributing…
CDC Report: Senior Death Rate from Accidental Falls is Rising
According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Center for Health Statistics, death rates due to falls are rising among older adults. The CDC found that fall death rates among adults aged 65 and older rose significantly between 2003 and 2023. In 2023, the accidental fall death rate…
Guest Blog: Real Patient Story: Fall Prevention for Betty Lou
By Brady Whetten PT, DPTMulti-Site Clinical Director at Therapy Partners GroupBoard-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy Betty Lou’s Story: Why Fall Prevention Matters At 73 years old, Betty Lou was thriving in retirement. Her days were filled with joy—playing pickleball, going on daily walks, tending to her flower garden, and spending quality time with…
APTQI Supports Legislation Aimed at Fall Prevention Among Aging Veterans
APTQI supports recently introduced bipartisan legislation that would mandate various measures to help reduce falls among aging veterans by connecting them with physical therapy care. The SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act (H.R. 3183/S. 668) would establish an Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and create a pilot program for incorporating falls…