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PT Pros Chosen to Work with Former UK Star Players
London & Hazard – Drs. Eddie Valentine & Chris Fuson of the London clinic and Heather Watts of the Hazard clinic were recently given the opportunity to work with players from the “Big Blue All-Stars”—an expo team consisting of former UK basketball players who have since moved on to the NBA. Heather and Chris were in the locker room and on the sidelines with the All-Stars during the Oct. 9th at Knott Central High School against Alice Lloyd College, while Eddie and Chris worked one-on-one with BOTH teams during the much-anticipated final “All-Stars vs. the Villains” game held in Rupp Arena on Oct. 24th. When asked about their time at Rupp, Eddie and Chris had this to say: “it was an incredible experience to work with some of the greatest athletes in the world in the greatest sports venue. We would both like to thank Jeff Sheppard and the PT Pros Family for the opportunity.” Way to go Heather, Chris, and Eddie!
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Carper Receives KPTA Award
PT Pros would like to congratulate Ramona "Mona" Carper, PT, DPT for being awarded the KPTA's 2011 "Outstanding Physical Therapist Service Award". Mona is a PT Pros Shareholder and is currently the Director of the Berea clinic. She received the award due, in part, to her work with KY Senate Bill 112, which passed earlier this year and limits the copay/coinsurance amounts patients must pay for PT services. Pictured are Mona and her family after the award presentation on Saturday, September 10 at Cardinal Hill in Lexington, KY.
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Governor Beshear Visits Barbourville Clinic
Governor Steve Beshear, along with several local civic leaders and community members, visited the Barbourville clinic on Thursday, September 8th. Pictured are Governor Beshear and PT Pros Shareholder, Connie Hauser.
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Kentucky Enacts Consumer Copay Protection Law
ALEXANDRIA, VA, March 17, 2011 — In a victory for patients of physical therapy, Kentucky Gov Steve Beshear signed landmark legislation protecting consumers from excessively high copays for physical therapy visits. Senate Bill 112, sponsored by State Senator Tom Buford (R) and advocated for by the Kentucky Physical Therapy Association (KPTA) and the Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association, was signed into law Wednesday evening.
SB 112 limits a copayment or coinsurance amount for a physical therapist or occupational therapist visit to no greater than the copayment or coinsurance amount charged to a patient for a physician or an osteopath for an office visit. SB 112 also requires insurers to clearly state the availability of therapies under their plans, and all related limitations.
"The Kentucky Physical Therapy Association pushed hard for this legislation because for too long we saw the detrimental effects that excessively high copays were having on patient care," said Ramona Carper, PT, DPT, president of KPTA. "The financial implication of excessive copay amounts results in disincentives for patients to participate in physical therapy, contributing to a lack of compliance for their care. This can result in significant recurrence and downstream costs including further surgery, imaging, and pharmacy."
Access to physical therapy services was restricted by managed care companies imposing "specialty" copays of $50 and sometimes as high as $75 per physical therapy or occupational therapy visit, limiting the frequency and duration of care a patient is able to afford. Since physical therapist services often require multiple visits over an extended period of time, many consumers are forced to pay nearly $600 per month in out-of-pocket expenses to receive physical therapist services.
"We hope that SB 112 will provide the patients we serve with some financial relief for their copays and allow them to focus on their most important priority -- getting better, faster," Carper said. "We believe that SB 112 will lead to better outcomes as well as increased savings in the long run."
SB 112 also focused attention on the growing problems and issues related to payment for physical therapy services and its detrimental effect on patient care. The legislation marks the first time KPTA has addressed payment issues through a state legislative effort.
"This truly was a team effort," said Dave Pariser, PT, PhD, legislative chair for KPTA. "Physical therapists, patients, and occupational therapists came together to advocate for this important legislation. It just goes to show what we can accomplish when we put our patients first."
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Nicaragua Mission Trip - 2011
Holly Johnson PT, DPT, PT Pros Shareholder and Director of the Harlan clinic, along with her husband, David, son, Josh, and daughter, Anne Corey, took part in a medical mission trip to Ometepe, Nicaragua during the week of June 18th. A total of 43 team members worked together in a rural medical health clinic setting to provide such services as: in-clinic dentistry, surgery, OB/GYN, and physical therapy, as well as, home health PT, to the economically depressed families of the island. This was the 2nd year that Holly & her family have participated. Follow the link to read Josh's blog entries made during the family's stay in Nicaragua.
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