November/December, 2016 Volume L, NO. 12
Empire State Physical
Therapy
The O fficia l N e ws l et t e r o f t h e Ne w York Phy si cal The rapy A ssoci at io n , In c. oB
IN THIS ISSUE Opioid Crisis: Next Step Cover Story (pages 1, 3)
2016 A Year In Review President’s Letter (page 2)
2017 Legislative Plan (page 4-5)
NY PT/PTA Students Fundraising Challenge (page 6)
Scott Weiss Paralympic Experience (page 8-9)
NYPTA Awards Form (page 14-15) (Click here for online form)
HOD Nomination Form (page 16) (Click here for online form)
Global PT DOS Activities (page 18-19)
RockTape Mini Conferences Recap PTA Caucus Nomination Form (page 21) (Click here for online form) www.nypta.org
The APTA Brings Awareness to the Role Physical Therapy Can Play in Combating the Opioid Crisis. Next is Greater Access to PTs Six Policy Fixes That Could Improve Access to PTs The American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) #ChoosePT campaign is creating awareness of the role physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) can play in providing consumers with effective, nondrug approaches to pain management. But eliminating opioid abuse will take more than raising awareness. Real change will be required. Real change “has to happen around the ways everyone – providers, payers, and patients view pain and its treatment, but those changes could happen faster if a few policies were brought up to speed in ways that would make it easier for the public to access and afford sufficient physical therapy. With improved access comes improved understanding of the real, safe alternative PTs and PTAs offer,” as noted by the APTA. The APTA identifies the six top policy fixes that need to happen to ensure improved access to PT services for everyone, and resources to help you understand the issues: 1. Repeal the Medicare therapy cap. The cap – and unwieldy exceptions process – reflects an out-of-date way of approaching payment, anchored in fee-for-service thinking and not true value. With the continued on page 3
November/December 2016 • Empire State Physical Therapy 1
Volume L, No.10 July/August 2016
EM P II R E M P RE E
2016 A Year In Review
A L L PPHHY YS SI I CC A
President’s letter
S TS AT TAET E
T THHE ER A R PA YP Y
Volume XXXIX, No.(8), November/December, 2005
Publisher
Hello my fellow members, As I write this message to you, the beautiful fall colors and the cool winds are a reminder that the holiday season is here. We are all so busy with our professional and personal lives that we can sometimes forget what we accomplished through our hard work over the course of a year. I want to take this opportunity to highlight our 2016 achievements. This year started with our Chapter staff and leadership growing more comfortable in our new office building. The building is truly our home. We also held our first web-based Winter Board of Directors meeting which was a huge success. So successful that we have decided that the web-based meeting will be the format for the 2017 Winter BOD meeting as well. February saw the beginnings of our very successful legislative and advocacy program developed through our 2016 Legislative Plan being fine-tuned and perfected. The plan produced a new initiative called “local lobby days”. Our members visited their legislators in their home districts in order to articulate the issues and concerns that affect our practice in New York State. Our goal is to establish “relationships with our legislators” that can assist us in our advocacy efforts throughout the year and to allow for a more focused visit during lobby day. March saw the continued governance review of all of our Chapter policies, “Together we are better and together our procedures, and Chapter office human blessing are countless.” resource needs. The Executive Committee and our Executive Director along Mike with Committee and SIG chairs have committed to aligning the Chapter staff Michael Mattia, PT, DPT, MS, MHA and Chapter activities with the needs of today’s association and practitioner. The result was the recruitment and hiring of our new Communications Manager, the retention of a best practice accounting firm to assist us with the daily finances of our Chapter, and increased collaboration between Committees and SIGs. Our Chapter continued to move forward. April and May are always a very busy period for our Chapter. Lobby Day preparation, meetings with legislators and other professional organizations that in some cases align and collaborate with us and in some cases have goals and initiatives that conflict with the best interests of our profession in our state. The strategy for Lobby Day 2016 was to have fewer people attend in order to deliver a laserlike and pointed focus as we met with our legislators. We were able to build on our local lobby days and had practicing PTs and PTAs speak to the issues that they confront every day in their practices. We successfully met with all of our legislators. The result was that many of them signed on to our bills and verbalized their support and understanding of the value that physical therapists and physical therapist assistants can deliver to the residents of New York State. It is because of our efforts that our PTA bill passed and has recently been delivered to the Governor’s desk for signing. While this was a great accomplishment for our Chapter the bill was vetoed by the Governor. During the month of May we also held our Delegate Assembly and Leadership Development Program. As always, both events were hugely successful. Delegate Assembly provided the platform for our elections, motions that impacted our Chapter and practice, and provided opinions and insights to our delegates to the 2016 APTA HOD. In June I had the honor and privilege along with our lobbyist Brian Lucey to speak before the Assembly Committee on the Modernization of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA is now five years old and New York is investigating changes to its approach to health care that best reflects the needs of all stakeholders, most importantly the health care consumer. We were able to further educate those on the Committee of the value provided by physical therapy and provided written follow-up urging that the model plan in New York State include outpatient physical therapy services to all individuals. continued on page 17 2 Empire State Physical Therapy • November/December, 2016
New York Physical Therapy Association 971 Albany Shaker Road Latham, NY 12110 Phone: 518.459.4499 • Toll-Free: 800.459.4489 Fax: 518.459.8953 www.nypta.org
Editor / Designer Gloria Baker Empire State Physical Therapy is published 6 times yearly, with combined January/February, March/April, May/June, July/ August, September/October and November/December issues. Its purpose is to provide physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and physical therapist/physical therapist assistant students with accurate and timely information relevant to the practice of physical therapy. The editor reserves the right to edit all communications. Anonymous letters will not be published. Views expressed are those of the author and do not represent the formal position of NYPTA unless expressly stated.
Editorial Board Claudia B. Fenderson, PT, EdD, PCS Melanie A. Gillar, PT, DPT, MA Susan Miller, PT, DPT, MS
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All advertisements in Empire State Physical Therapy must comply with the ethical standards of the APTA. Acceptance of advertisements in this publication does not imply endorsement.
Submission of Material for Publication Submissions should be sent via email to Gloria Baker, Editor, at gbaker@nypta.org. Submissions are subject to the discretion of the editorial board.
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NYPTA members automatically recei ve this publication. Nonmember subscriptions are $100 (US) or $150 (non-US) annually. This price includes sales tax, shipping and handling.
Deadlines Editorial and advertising deadlines are the first business day of the month prior to the month of publication.
Chapter Officers
President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Speaker Chief Delegate
Michael Mattia, PT, DPT, MS, MHA Tracy Sawyer, PT, DPT Stephen Lahr, PT, PhD JJ Mowder-Tinney, PT, PhD, CSRS, NCS Lynn Rivers, PT, PhD Peggy Lynam, PT, DPT, NCS
Chapter Directors Brooklyn/Staten Island Catskill Central Eastern Finger Lakes Greater New York Hudson Valley Long Island Southern Tier Western
Michael Masaracchio, PT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT Jill Taylor, PT, GCS Jonathan Small, PT, DPT Nathaniel Mosher, PT, DPT Andrew Bartlett, PT Rebecca Kalb, PT, DPT, SCS Nannette Hyland, PT, PhD Robert M. Streb, PT, PhD John Winslow, PT, DPT, MTC, ATC, OCS Jacob I. McPherson, PT, DPT, NCS
Chapter Office Staff
Executive Director Kelly Garceau kgarceau@nypta.org Communications Manager Gloria Baker gbaker@nypta.org Meetings Planner Carla Rosenbaum crosenbaum@nypta.org Administrative Assistant Kate Teidman kteidman@nypta.org
Copyright 2016 by the New York Physical Therapy Association. Requests for reprints should be directed to Gloria Baker at NYPTA, 971 Albany Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110.
www.nypta.org
Six Policies that Could Improve Access to PTs continued from page 1
flawed sustainable growth rate now a thing of the past, it’s time to put this tired idea to bed. Check out: Medicare Therapy Cap Advocacy: Stop the Cap! 2. Remove federal and state restrictions that get in the way of access to a PT. Yes, all 50 states now offer some form of direct access to a PT, but the words “some form of” are key: many jurisdictions put limits on numbers of visits allowed before obtaining a physician referral, or put other burdens on the PT and patient to make a case for pursuing a particular plan of treatment. Patients’ needs – particularly when it comes to chronic pain – can differ greatly. How does it make sense to arbitrarily restrict a patient’s access to a nondrug alternative that is working for them? Check out: Direct Access at the State Level webpage. 3. Ensure comprehensive insurance coverage for services provided by PTs. It’s understandable that insurers would want to promote the most cost-effective treatments, but given the ways the opioid epidemic is ravaging the public health landscape, can anyone really argue that the current system, often tied to quick fixes, is really the optimal way to go? Are insurance companies starting to get the message? At least one insurer in Oregon sees the possibilities of providing better coverage for physical therapy for the treatment of pain. Check out: Physical Therapy Model Benefit Plan Design: From Position to Practice (2-part podcast). 4. Provide for fair copays under insurance. Even when insurance companies do cover physical therapy, they can put treatment out of reach for customers by making the patient’s share of the bill too high. State insurance commissions can play an important part in reducing consumers’ out-of-pocket expenses. Check out: APTA Fair Physical Therapy Copays webpage. 5. Allow PTs to perform to the full extent of their education and training. The evidence base for physical therapy is strong, and getting stronger, and the trend in state legislatures across the country has been predominantly in the direction of increasing, rather than decreasing, the PT and PTA scope of practice. Good news – but advocates need to keep that momentum going. Check out: APTA Professional Scope of Practice webpage. 6. Protect patient choice of their PT. Patients should not only be able to access a PT, they should be able to make an informed decision about which PT they would prefer to use. The problem is that exceptions to a law prohibiting selfreferral allow some physicians to refer to patients to physical therapy facilities that they own, or in which they have a financial stake. That not only makes it harder for patients to make an informed choice, it can actually drive up health care costs. Check out: APTA Physician Self-Referral webpage.
Source: The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), October 2016
www.nypta.org
November/December 2016 • Empire State Physical Therapy 3
The 2017 Legislative Plan Greetings fellow members, The Legislative and Payment Committee, NYPTA President Mike Mattia, NYPTA staff, and our lobbyists are gearing up for the 2017 legislative session. As the holidays and New Year approach I want to take this opportunity to provide an overview of our newly adopted 2017 Legislative Plan and to share some new initiatives which we believe will help us build on the momentum gained during the previous session. I also would like to express to sincere Thank You to all of our members who were engaged in the legislative process in 2016 and responded to our “Call to Action” blasts, made legislative visits, and/or attended Lobby Day. The complete Legislative Plan for the 2017 session can be found on NYPTA’s website at http://www.nypta.org/ resource/resmgr/legislative/Legislative_Plan_2017_-_Fina.pdf. The NYPTA Board of Directors recently passed the new Plan thus marking a fresh start for our 2017 efforts including some new areas of focus. Since the end of the 2016 session we have been evaluating our legislative priorities and areas for opportunity as our healthcare system continues to evolve. While considering our plan, we have welcomed enhanced communication and collaboration between NYPTA leadership and private practice organizations PT First Alliance, AIPT, and the NY Council of Physiotherapists. Here is a brief overview of our Legislative Plan: 1. High Copay Legislation. The 2016 session marked a significant achievement for our copay bill. We successfully obtained co-sponsorship by over 50% of the NYS Assembly. In an effort to make our bill more contemporary and consistent with the changing healthcare climate we will be changing its language. The 20% copay limit will be removed as this has been seen as a potential barrier to implementation and we will replace it with cost-limiting language tying physical therapy copayments closer to that of primary care services. We also plan to take advantage of the significant support gained for this bill from our legislature in 2016 by creating new public relations initiatives to highlight what has become a true healthcare access issue.
2. Referral for Profit. We will draft and introduce legislation to highlight the existence of referral for profit and to curb its practice. Our goal is to enhance transparency of physician ownership in ancillary services and to restrict the practice of conditioning a referral for physical therapy on where the services will be performed. We believe that this will educate healthcare consumers and protect their right to choose their provider.
3. Insurance Transparency and Adequacy. Over the past year we have heard several reports of unclear representations regarding physical therapy insurance coverage and we have seen a reemergence of “post-hospital/post-surgical” requirements for rehab services. We will continue to work with the Insurance Division of NYS Department of Financial Services, and if necessary introduce legislation to ensure payor transparency in coverage of physical therapist services and to safeguard consumers against inappropriate coverage limitations.
4. Title Protection. As the 2016 session came to a close we were able to craft agreeable language addressing the concerns of NYPTA and other stakeholders in Albany. Unfortunately we ran out of time to move the updated bill. In 2017 we will reintroduce the newest language and expect it to move more efficiently than in the previous session.
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The 2017 Legislative Plan continued from page 4
5. Workers’ Compensation: Our bill enabling the physical therapist assistant’s participation in the care of injured workers was vetoed by the Governor. We will continue working to push this forward. As we plan for 2017 we will continue to advocate for issues related to the severely outdated and inadequate Workers’ Compensation medical fee schedule. The Governor has reported Workers’ Compensation reform to be a priority for his administration and we will be as engaged as possible in future discussions.
6. Practice Act Advancement: NYPTA will create a taskforce to determine opportunities and barriers related to an updated Physical Therapist Practice Act. The work of this group will help to guide chapter leadership in crafting a more contemporary practice act consistent with current and future physical therapist practice.
Again, these are some highlights of our 2017 plan. I would encourage you to review the full plan on our website. One thing that has become clearer than ever over this past year is that WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION. The chapter will be supporting new local legislative efforts with the goal of getting NYPTA members to develop stronger relationships with our own local representatives. These relationships will be crucial as we try to move our priorities forward as well as when we need to protect the interests of our great profession. We are planning for a coordinated local lobbying effort this spring before Lobby Day on April 25th, 2017. Our goal is for our members to already have a relationship with their legislators so that Lobby Day becomes an opportunity to catch-up, pay them a visit at their Albany office, and discuss the status or progress of our bills rather than being the first chance to introduce both ourselves and our interests. Please stay tuned for updates as we begin the 2017 legislative session and roll out local lobbying efforts. NYPTA and your Legislative Liaisons will be hard at work over the next several months to ensure that our priorities are able to take off. But please remember, as I have stated in the past, It is you, our membership whose continued commitment and passion for physical therapy will make the difference!! Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season, Jake McPherson, PT, DPT, NCS, MSCS Chairperson, Advisory Panel on Legislation
www.nypta.org
November/December 2016 • Empire State Physical Therapy 5
New York PT & PTA Students Help Break Record in 2016 Fundraising Challenge by McKayla Figueroa, SPT
Students from PT & PTA programs in New York were among students from 150 schools that participated in the record-breaking 2015-2016 Pittsburgh-Marquette Challenge, raising $354,320, the highest annual total in the history of the fundraiser. Since its inception in 1989, 264 schools have participated in the Marquette Challenge and have raised a cumulative total of $3.3 million for the Foundation. The Foundation wishes to thank the physical therapy and physical therapist assistant students of the following New York programs for raising $16,171 in support of the Challenge: Clarkson University, Columbia University, Dominican College of Blauvelt, D’Youville College, Ithaca College, Mercy College, Nassau Community College, Nazareth College of Rochester, New York Medical University, New York University, The Sage Colleges, and Touro College. Notably, New York University received an Award of Excellence for raising over $10,000. This year’s top fundraisers include: 1st Place: Virginia Commonwealth University 2nd Place: Mercer University 3rd Place: University of Pittsburgh As the top fundraiser, Virginia Commonwealth University will serve as co-host for the 2016-2017 VCUMarquette Challenge, which is underway. The Challenge annually supports grants, scholarships and the rigorous peer review process which results in the awarding of all Foundation scholarships and grants. Karin Grävare Silbernagel, PT, PhD, ATC an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Delaware, is the recipient of the 2015 Pittsburgh-Marquette Research Grant. Her project will examine Achilles tendon ruptures and the evaluation of their recovery. The Challenge also funded a PODS I Scholarship in 2016, which was awarded to Allison Gustavson (Kosir), PT, DPT, of the University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus. Faculty and students of PT and PTA programs in the state of New York are encouraged to visit the Foundation’s Web site at www.Foundation4PT.org to learn how they can support the Foundation for Physical Therapy and physical therapy research through the VCU-Marquette Challenge. Contributions for the 2016-2017 VCUMarquette Challenge should be submitted by the April 27th, 2017 deadline. Donations are tax deductible and can be made online at Foundation4PT.org or sent to its headquarters at 1111 N Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA 22314. About the Foundation for Physical Therapy The Foundation for Physical Therapy was established in 1979 as a national, independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality and delivery of physical therapy care by providing support for scientificallybased and clinically-relevant physical therapy research and doctoral scholarships and fellowships. Over the last 37 years, the Foundation has awarded more than $17 million in research grants, fellowships, and post professional doctoral scholarships to more than 576 emerging scientists. Foundation-funded researchers have gone on to receive an estimated $753 million in external funding from the National Institutes of Health and other sources. Many of today’s leading and emerging physical therapist researchers, clinicians, and academicians began their careers with a grant or scholarship from the Foundation. To learn more, visit Foundation4pt.org. For more information, email info@foundation4pt.org or call (800)-875-1378.
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Arthur J. Nelson Research Designated Fund New York Physical Therapy Association Call for Applications Arthur J. Nelson Research Designated Fund (RDF) The New York Physical Therapy Association invites applications for the 2017 Arthur J. Nelson Research Designated Fund. The chapter will fund up to $5,000 for projects designed to facilitate clinical research in physical therapy. The fund is intended to provide a mechanism for investigators to collect pilot data to support the development of larger, more comprehensive research proposals. ____________________________________________________________________________ Arthur J. Nelson Research Designated Fund Details ____________________________________________________________________________ The NYPTA Research Committee will review all applications based on the following guidelines: 1. Relevance of the study to physical therapy practice, research or education 2. Clear identification of how the pilot data will be used in a larger grant proposal 3. Research design and methodology 4. Organization and clarity of the application 5. Investigator’s readiness and likelihood of completing the project 6. Appropriateness of the budget request The committee will recommend recipients for the awards to the Board of Directors. ____________________________________________________________________________ Eligibility ____________________________________________________________________________ The principal investigator must be a member of the APTA, be licensed to practice physical therapy in the state of New York, and maintain an active New York State Education Department Registration. Pre-professional (entry-level) students are ineligible to apply. _____________________________________________________________________________ Application Deadline ______________________________________________________________________________ Applications for the Arthur J. Nelson Research Designated Fund can be obtained from the Research Committee webpage on the NYPTA website (www.nypta.org/group/Research) and must be returned electronically to the Chapter office by February 10, 2017 at midnight. There will be no exceptions to this deadline. To obtain further information about the application procedure, please contact a co-chair of the Research Committee (Eric Lamberg, eric.lamberg@stonybrook.edu or Laura Gras, lgras@ithaca. edu).
www.nypta.org
November/December 2016 • Empire State Physical Therapy 7
Q&A With Scott Weiss About His Paralympic Games Experience
Scott Weiss, PT is a member of the NYPTA and a long-time volunteer with the United States Olympic Committee. Over the last 16 years Scott has worked at three Olympic Games and two Pan Am games. Most recently Weiss spent two weeks at the US Olympic Training center in Colorado, working with Paralympic athletes. 1. How did you get involved in working with Olympic and Paralympic athletes? I was a competitive Tae Kwon Do athlete in my teens and early 20’s and almost made the Olympics for Tae Kwon Do when it was a demonstration sport in 1988. Unfortunately, it was not in my cards and I lost at the Olympic trials. Obviously being crushed at never having a chance to go to the games as an athlete meant something else was in store. After that day, I vowed to myself that if I could not win an Olympic medal myself, then I would help others achieve that dream. Somehow the universe was on my side and I was able attend 3 Olympics and 2 Pan Am Games as a sports physical therapist and athletic trainer. Most recently, I helped prepare the Paralympian athletes for their games. This is my 16th year with the US Olympic Committee. 2. How long were you at the Colorado training center, and what did a day in your life at the center en-
tail?
I was there for 2 full weeks. A regular day was waking up at about 5:30-6 am, doing a 15-20 minute meditation and an assortment of bodyweight exercises with a scenic mountain backdrop. After that was shower and some breakfast. The cafeteria at the USOC training center is perfect. Any food you want almost any time of the day, and everything is steamed, baked or grilled. I think I even lost a few pounds eating perfectly every day. It was almost like a training camp for me. By 8 am all sports medicine staff must be at the clinic ready to work. There were 3 other interim staff members (a massage therapist, an athletic trainer, a chiropractor, and me, the PT/ATC). Some of us had to cover practices and others stayed at the clinic. Since most athletes were in Rio, we worked with many winter sports athletes, and some athletes that were injured and couldn’t go to Rio, and of course many of the Paralympians. I did everything from sports specific rehab with a wrestler, and manual therapy on a judoka, to aiding in the proper fitting of a prosthetic for a triathlete. Furthermore, every other day you were on call, which meant any injuries on the campus are directed to you. The USOC provides the on-call medical professional with a phone, and from 6pm to 8am the next day you are the first aider. This was a big responsibility and I am glad nothing catastrophic happened on my shifts this time. Lunch was from 12 -1 which consisted of another healthy meal. The last part of the day at the clinic was 2-6pm and this consisted of athlete walk-ins and covering 2nd practices. Any athlete needing a flush from a workout, questioning a lingering injury, needing a massage or chiropractic adjustment used this time. 3. You said you have been to 3 Olympic Games, and 2 Pan Am games - how do you balance your time
in your daily clinic job with experiences like being away for these events?
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Q&A with Scott Weiss About His Paralympic Games Experience
I am very fortunate to have a great business partner that balances me out in every way. Of course, a support staff that makes me feel like I won the gold upon my return helps as well. If it was not for them I would never be able to travel and do such amazing things. You must truly get to know your staff and treat them well if you would like to make lasting relationships. 4. How is working with Olympic or Paralympic athletes the same and/or different than standard athletes or
patients?
Athletes know their bodies extremely well and the paralympians are just the same. They kind of know what they need already and watch you adapt. You must be patient and be a great listener but also realize they may be dealing with comorbidities and other issues which means a full health history & examination is imperative. Concomitantly, appreciating that the treatment is usually modified in some way and their responses to treatment may be enhanced, such as a guide dog can be laying on the side of your table, to positioning adaptations you may make for comfort. 5. Can you tell us some things you have learned from your experiences with Paralympic athletes?
Working with the Paralympic athletes sheds light on the true depth of what the human spirit can accomplish through adversity and loss. They are able to develop a positive internal dialogue and forge forward in life at the top of their sports but also on top of their lives…they are all my inspirations. One major point that stands out is the perseverance to do things perfectly. 6. Do you have any advice for others who aspire to work with Olympic/Paralympic athletes?
Start off as a volunteer if you must. Try to gain experience in any way possible. Shadow a prosthetist and orthotist. Follow an orthopedic surgeon on rounds or be lucky enough to be invited into the surgical room. We all proceed with a bit of extra caution when working with this population and rightfully so. What we don’t know can and may affect treatment. The PT must be comfortable with their knowledge base, and what they lack in experience they must make up with intensity and curiosity. 7. When you’re not working in the physical therapy field, what do you do in your free time?
Well, I am a true enthusiast of body movement and expression in any way, and I am also a big reader. I actually wrote a biography on an old boxing manager and trainer named Cus D’Amato, called www.confusingtheenemy. com. My hobbies are magic, the martial arts, and gymnastics… My latest project is tap dancing. Always had a love for it and felt like I could do it. I also am a proud parent of boy/girl twins that are about 2 y/o. They both do pushups, pullups and head stands, with my help of course but teaching ‘em young.
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November/December 2016 • Empire State Physical Therapy 9
November is Long-Term Care (LTC) Awareness MonthEight Things People Should Know November is LTC Awareness Month – A month in which we bring awareness to the importance of planning for the possibility of needing some form of care in the future. This can be challenging...especially for those who find it hard to see themselves needing help with the most basic daily activities, like bathing or dressing. Yet, taking accountability for their future care and planning for that day is something everyone should do. Here are eight things you should consider when developing a plan for long-term care: 1. Planning for long-term care is important. Most people will tell you they plan to live a long life, but with age comes the need for help with some of the things they’ve always done for themselves. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70 percent of people who reach age 65 will need LTC services at some point in their lives. 2. LTC services are expensive. Mutual of Omaha’s cost-of-care survey revealed that just one year in a nursing home can cost nearly $130,000 (based on New York averages). Home health care is less expensive, but people still can expect to pay over $52,000 per year on average for care they receive at home. 3. You can’t rely on Medicare. Many people mistakenly believe their LTC needs are already covered. In reality, Medicare only covers services for a short time – typically just long enough to help people get back on their feet after an illness or injury. 4. Medicaid isn’t for everyone. It’s true. Medicaid does cover LTC services. But it’s important to remember that Medicaid is a program for people with low incomes and limited resources. That may mean you would have to spend down your assets just to qualify. Not an attractive option for people who want to protect the assets they worked a lifetime to accumulate and leave a legacy for their children. 5. There’s a hidden cost to family caregivers. It’s easy to say, "My family will take
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November is Long-Term Care (LTC) Awareness MonthEight Things People Should Know care of me" but a spouse may not be physically able to provide all the care that’s needed. Also, children have their own family and career obligations. The fact is, family caregivers frequently suffer from stress and illness themselves. Not to mention lost wages if they have to give up a job or reduce work hours. 6. The best time to start planning is now. The need for LTC services can arise at any time. How will you pay for the care you need? Where will you live? Who will take care of you? These are questions people need to ask themselves now while they’re young and in good health.. Having a plan in place when that day comes can help alleviate the emotional strain many families face. It also helps to ensure you get to make the important decisions about the care you receive and in the setting you prefer. 7. The cost of waiting can be high. The ability to obtain an LTCi policy is based on being in good health at the time of application. So it’s important for people to understand that if something happens to cause a change in their health status, they may not be able to purchase LTCi at any price. 8. Some coverage is better than none. Many people who think they can’t afford an LTCi policy neglect to consider what would happen if they didn’t have one. Without a policy to help pay the bills for LTC services, they may have to liquidate assets, sell stocks, dip into savings or retirement accounts or sell property to come up with the cash they need. Even a modest LTCi policy offers some protection for their important assets. The NYPTA has partnered with New York Long-Term Care Brokers to offer a Long-Term Care Insurance Program. Their team will provide you with objective advice and discounted policies from numerous highly rated Long-Term Care Insurance companies. You will have access to a dedicated LTCI planning specialist to help you compare polices from different insurance companies, ensuring the best coverage at the most competitive premium. To speak with a LTCI planning specialist please call, toll free (800)695-8224 Ext 137 or visit http://nyltcb.com/nypta/.
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November/December 2016 • Empire State Physical Therapy 11
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November/December 2016 • Empire State Physical Therapy 13
AWARDS COMMITTEE SEEKS NOMINATIONS Any Chapter member or district may submit nominations. It is important that all nominations be well supported with information about the nominees’ activities that indicate their appropriateness for the award.
3. Leslie J. Wood Outstanding Service to Chapter Award. The recipient will have made outstanding contributions to
To be considered valid, all nominations must be submitted on the official form (page 15) by March 1, 2017. Multiple entries may be submitted.
4. Merit Award. The recipient will have made meritorious
The following is a list of descriptions of NYPTA awards:
1. Dr. Marilyn Moffat Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes an NYPTA member who has made an outstanding contribution to physical therapy. The recipient will have demonstrated consistent service to the development of the physical therapy profession, beyond that which is inherent in being a member of the profession. This commitment of service is demonstrated by contributions to the profession in the following areas: 1. The profession of physical therapy in any of the following areas: a. Education. The recipient has fostered the development of quality learning experiences that promote sustaining and improving the physical therapy profession, including teaching in areas such as academic, in-service or continuing education; development and implementation of teaching methods; administration of a PT program. b. Clinical research. The recipient has initiated or participated in laboratory and/or clinical research that has promoted the development of the physical therapy profession and has published or disseminated the results of such research. c. Service. The recipient has demonstrated service to the profession in patient care, consultation, administration or education as a liaison to other health care organizations and/or committees. 2. The APTA or its components: The recipient has promoted the organization and its goals. 3. Community: The recipient has demonstrated involvement in organizations such as service organizations; local, state or federal government in an elected or voluntary capacity.
2. NYPTA Lifetime Service Award. The recipient shall have demonstrated a commitment to the profession of physical therapy by serving NYPTA: 1. Throughout their physical therapy career on an ongoing, consistent basis. 2. Through service primarily to the Chapter in any elected or appointed capacity but may also include District or National activities. 3. By providing contributions that are worthy of mention and which will be judged on the basis of results and not merely the duration or continuity of that service.
Chapter Award General Criteria: 1. Candidates must be members in good standing of the APTA and may be nominated by any member of the New York Chapter. However, candidates for the New York Chapter Appreciation Award need not be APTA members. 2. Nominations must be submitted on the official form found on page 15. 3. Unsupported nominations will not be considered. 4. A committee appointed by the Board of Directors will consider all nominations and choose recipients. 5. Recipients of the Dr. Marilyn Moffat Distinguished Service, New York Chapter Appreciation, Public Relations and Merit Awards will be notified two weeks prior to the Delegate Assembly to ensure their presence during the presentation of awards. 6. All awards will not necessarily be presented each year.
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the New York Chapter in promoting the organization and its goals.
contributions in one of the following capacities: as a member of the Chapter Board of Directors, as a task force or committee Chairperson, or by committing time and resources to the Chapter and the profession.
5. Doreen Frank Legislative Award. The nominee shall have demonstrated consistent, outstanding participation in the legislative arena by promoting initiatives that preserve, protect and advance the practice of physical therapy in NYS. Activities shall include the following: a) attendance at Lobby Day b) interaction with legislators re: current legislative issues c) promotion of and participation in PAC activities d) involvement in legislative activities on a district and/or chapter level.
6. Public Relations Award. The recipient will have fostered public awareness of the profession of physical therapy through utilization of the media, community activities, special events or promotion of PT Month, etc. Nominations may be submitted for Districts, individuals, facilities or schools, and must be substantiated by written information, photographs, brochures/printed materials or copies of articles, etc. Activities of Chapter committees are not eligible for consideration.
7. New York Chapter Appreciation Award. This award is not limited to physical therapists or APTA members. The individual will have fostered the ideas and/or ethics of physical therapy through service to the New York Chapter or the profession.
8. Outstanding Service to District Award. The recipient will have made outstanding contributions to a district.
9. Leadership Development Award. Recipients of this award should exemplify the spirit of leadership development within the profession through, but not limited to, the following: a) Participation or promotion of mentor/protégée relationships; b) Participation or promotion of attendance at the Leadership Development Workshop, Delegate Assembly, Lobby Day or other association leadership activities; c) Creation and implementation of innovative ideas for developing leaders within the profession; c) Creation and implementation of methods to keep the spirit of leadership alive throughout the professional life cycle. The following outlines further specifications for this particular award: a) Nominations may be submitted for Districts, individuals, facilities or academic programs; b) Nominees should be Chapter members; in the case of facilities or academic programs, the individual spearheading the effort should be a chapter member; c) Nominations must be substantiated by written information including data collected regarding numbers of individuals affected by the leadership efforts; d) Members of the Chapter Leadership Committee are not eligible for this award while in office.
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NYPTA Awards Nomination Form All portions of this form must be completed for the nomination to be valid. The form may be photocopied to accommodate multiple entries. Please send this form to the Chapter office: NYPTA / 971 Albany Shaker Road / Latham, NY 12110 Attn: Awards Committee. • • • Deadline for submitting nominations: March 1, 2017. • • • Please print or type Nominee’s name:_____________________________________________________________________ District:_____________________________________________________________________________ Award: Dr. Marilyn Moffat Distinguished Service Award NYPTA Lifetime Service Award Leslie J. Wood Outstanding Service to Chapter Award Merit Award Doreen Frank Legislative Award Public Relations Award New York Chapter Appreciation Award Outstanding Service to District Award (only one individual to be submitted by each district) Leadership Development Award
Association activities: These include elected or appointed positions at the national, chapter and/or district levels, and involvement in committees, task forces, etc. Please provide as much information as possible, including dates. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ How do the candidate’s contributions affect eligibility for the award? Please be specific. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ (For Public Relations Award only) Please describe activity in detail and submit materials as specified in award criteria: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Nominations submitted by: (individual, committee, board member, district)
_____________________________________________________________________________
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November/December 2016 • Empire State Physical Therapy 15
Submit NOW!
House of Delegates Nomination Form Nomination Form and NYPTA Consent to Serve Form for Delegates to APTA’s 2018 House of Delegates, Date/Location: To Be Determined DEADLINE: December 15, 2016
Instructions: Individuals wishing to become Delegates to the APTA House of Delegates must now submit their own Nomination Forms. Please print or type on the form below and mail or fax it to the Chapter Office (NYPTA / 971 Albany Shaker Road / Latham, NY 12110). The completed form must be RECEIVED in Chapter Office by December 15, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. There will be no exceptions to this deadline.
The House of Delegates is an APTA policy-making body comprised of voting chapter delegates, non-voting delegates (the Board of Directors and section, assembly, and PTA Caucus delegates), and consultants. The House meets annually for 3 successive days each spring during which time delegates make decisions on issues that may have far-reaching implications for the association and for the profession of physical therapy. Any physical therapist member who has been an APTA member in good standing for two years immediately preceding the annual meeting of the House of Delegates for which you were elected may serve as a Chapter Delegate. You have until December 15, 2016 to nominate yourself for Delegate to APTA’s 2018 House of Delegates.
Qualifications: Only Physical Therapist members who have been APTA members in good standing for two years immediately preceding the annual meeting of the House of Delegates for which they are elected may serve as Chapter Delegates. Full name of nominee:____________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Phone: (H)(_____) _____________ (W)(_____)_________________________ Email:__________________________________________________________ Current District Affiliation:_________________________________________ Date of membership in Chapter:____________________________________ Please list specific Chapter, District or National Association activities (offices, committees, etc.) in which you have been involved. Please include dates and be specific. The information you provide is used by the Delegate Assembly to evaluate candidates. (Please attach your Association activities to this form, using additional sheets, if more space is necessary.) Chapter:________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ District:_________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ National:________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ The conditions below are mandatory pre-Delegate activities required for Delegates to the House of Delegates. Please initial your consent adjacent to the statements: ��������IF ELECTED, I WILL ATTEND DISTRICT MEETINGS WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO DISCUSS ISSUES RELATIVE TO THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY OR HOUSE OF DELEGATES MEETINGS. ��������IF ELECTED, I WILL ATTEND THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY HELD PRIOR TO THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES MEETING FOR WHICH I AM ELECTED. _______________________________________________________________ Date Signature
16 Empire State Physical Therapy • November/December, 2016
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2016 A Year In Review continued from page 2
Currently physical therapy is only available after surgery. I was proud to be a member of our delegation to the APTA House of Delegates held in Nashville during the month of June. As always New York is on the front line of the issues that impact our profession. New York voices and in turn your voices are always heard. We all represented each of you and I was proud of our delegation and its impact on the House of Delegates. Summer was a quiet time. Time for some rest and a time to catch our breath. Chapter governance does not rest and thus the work continued. Committee work, improving our communications platforms, executive committee work, etc. The work of the Chapter and its mission to represent you and me, does not take a vacation. The fall brings with it a chance to take the energy garnered during the previous summer months, step back into the work to be done and begin to look at what we have accomplished and what is still in front of us. For our Chapter, it’s a time to take stock of where we are as a profession, what successes we have had, where we came up short, and where the threats and opportunities lay ahead for us as we forge ahead. The fall was also the time when we began the preparation for the 2017 budget, developed a new legislative plan for 2017, planned for our Fall BOD, and continued moving forward. Work in September and October culminated in a very successful Fall BOD meeting. During the meeting, our Board reviewed and passed our 2017 budget which allows us to continue to fund the workings of our Chapter office and the business of PT in NY. We passed our 2017 Legislative Plan to continue to expand on the successes of this past legislative session, and were host to the most Director’s Interns and guests in the last few years. In September we launched the NYPTA’s support of the APTA’s Opioid Epidemic Crisis campaign and its impact in New York State internally to our members and externally with a press release picked up by numerous news outlets. We also held collaborative calls with the NYPTA, AIPT, PT First Alliance (formerly PTAUNY), and the Society of Physiotherapists. These calls have led to a cooperative relationship that will allow for the sharing of information and the coordination of all organizations’ efforts to move our profession forward in NYS. I am truly excited about the potential for working together on key issues. So here we are. I am hoping that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Good times with family and friends and a uniquely American holiday that allows us to reflect on our blessings, and to give thanks. I am truly thankful for the blessing of my family and friends, for the blessing of living in the greatest nation on the planet, and for being free to live my life as I wish. I am thankful for being able to practice a profession that I truly love and has afforded me the opportunity to make a positive impact on so many people. I am thankful for the honor of being your President. I am thankful to our Executive Committee members, our Board of Directors, Committee Chairs and members, and to our Chapter staff for their leadership, passion, and support throughout the year. Finally, I am thankful for the efforts of each member and all that each of you do for your patients and our profession every single day of the year. Together we are better and together our blessings are countless. I wish each of you a wonderful Holiday season filled with everything you hope for and good times with loved ones and friends.
d
dd dd Happy Holidays! The end of the year brings no greater joy than the opportunity to express to you season’s greetings and good wishes. May your holidays and New Year be filled with joy! Kelly Garceau Executive Director NYPTA
ddd d
Until next time, all the best, Mike
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November/December 2016 • Empire State Physical Therapy 17
NYPTA Members Make a Difference in Their Communities NYPTA Chapter Office - Regional Food Bank Kate Teidman, Kelly Garceau, Gloria Baker and Carla Rosenbaum volunteered at the Regional Foodbank where they sorted and boxed food donations. The Food Bank provides over 30 million pounds of food a year to 1,000 agencies in 23 counties. The Food Bank’s service area encompasses 41% of the landmass of New York State.
Eastern District - Habitat for Humanity Builds The Eastern District had two Habitat for Humanity projects coordinated on Saturday October 15th - one in Albany and the other in Saratoga.
Greater New York District - Terry Fox Run in Central Park Greater New York, lead by Carrie Gatlin Fuller, had seventy-seven physical therapy professionals get together on PT DOS to run a race and raise money for cancer research. Together they raised $2500.
18 Empire State Physical Therapy • November/December, 2016
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NYPTA Members Make a Difference in Their Communities Long Island District - Happyfest Eighteen Long Island NYPTA members volunteered at Happyfest, the country’s very first all-ages, all-abilities wheelchair accessible obstacle course at the Long Island Sports Park on Saturday, October 15th. Happyfest is about family fitness, togetherness and inclusion, and designed so that everyone can do the course and cross the finish line together. Physical therapists were assigned to every obstacle on the 1+ mile course to assist as needed with the obstacle or its alternative option. This was a great oppportunity for PT’s to make a difference!
Western District - St. Luke’s Mission The Western District volunteered at St. Luke’s Mission in Buffalo on PT DOS. They donated items to the Mission, helped paint one of the local schools and volunteered in the kitchen. The Mission was very appreciative of their enthusiam and time.
Hudson Valley District
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Hudson Valley District- Northeast Recreation Physical therapists volunteered their time to work with adolescents with either autism or Down syndrome to increase their participation in art, music, obstacle course, basketball, soccer, volleyball and parachute activities.
November/December 2016 • Empire State Physical Therapy 19
News & Announcements
The PR Committee selects the Eastern District as this year’s Golden Goniometer winner for the 2nd Year Running!
The District did an amazing job running four Fall Prevention events and participating in two PT DOS activities with Habitat for Humanity. An honorable mention goes to Greater New York for their PT DOS Terry Fox Run raising $2,500 for cancer research. The awards will be officially presented at the Delegate Assembly in the Spring.
NYPTA dues may be tax deductible. Below is the portion of your dues that is not deductible as an ordinary and necessary expense to the extent that APTA and NYPTA engage in Lobbying: The non-deductible portion of your Chapter dues is 12% The non-deductible portion of your National dues is 21%
2017 Events
Connect with us on Social Media!
Winter Board Meeting - Jan. 21 (Via Webinar) Lobby Day - Apr. 25 (Legislative Office Building) Spring Executive Committee, Board of Directors’ and Delegate Assembly Meeting - May 18-20 (Desmond Hotel, Albany NY) Fall Executive Committee and Board of Directors’ Meeting Oct. 18-19 (Hilton Garden Inn, Troy NY) Fall Conference - Oct. 20-21 (Hilton Garden Inn, Troy NY)
to Competent Professional Services Professional misconduct and unlicensed practice of the professions are against the law!
To report suspected cases of professional misconduct or unlicensed practice of the professions, call 800-442-8106 or email conduct@mail.nysed.gov.
20 Empire State Physical Therapy • November/December, 2016
(Click buttons to view)
There’s no better way to: • Communicate • Engage • Share information
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Mini Conferences....Major Success
by Mike Tisbe PT, Program Committee Chair, Carla Rosenbaum, NYPTA Meeting Planner
This year the NYPTA undertook an unprecedented step in the efforts to help engage and educate physical therapy professionals and students throughout New York. The Mini Conferences Series of 2016 was planned by the NYPTA program committee as an event that could be held in key cities to reach a large number of members, in a year when there was no NYPTA Statewide conference. The inception was simple but brilliant; provide appropriate and exciting clinical programming in a one day seminar, in 3 different cities, at 3 different times of the year. This year the NYPTA mini conference series featured RockTape, with courses being held in Syracuse, Tarrytown and Albany. Rock Tape heralds the redefinition of kinesiology taping, with the emphasis on taping movements not muscles. The introductory course was delivered by certified RockTape presenter John Koniuto, who led the course with a combination of professionalism, humor and participant interaction. These one-day seminars provided participants of all levels with the foundation for use of kinesiology taping; providing current literature citations, and instructions for application and indications for use. Almost 200 PTs, PTAs and students participated in the 3 city event evoking comments from participants, such as: “It was more than I expected” “It exceeded my expectations greatly” “It met my expectations and more” Those in attendance demonstrated the commitment to learning instilled in the profession, and championed by NYPTA.
New York Chapter Nomination Form Representative to the 2017-2019 PTA Caucus Deadline: December 15, 2016
Instructions: Please print or type on the form below and mail or fax it to the Chapter Office (NYPTA, 971 Albany Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110) by the deadline above. The completed form must be RECEIVED in Chapter Office by December 15, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. There will be no exceptions to this deadline. Qualifications: Only Physical Therapist Assistant or Life Physical Therapist Assistant members who have been APTA members for one year immediately preceding election may serve as Chapter Representative. Submitted By:
Full Name: Address:
Membership #: Phone: Email:
(H) (
)
(W) (
) Date of Membership in Chapter:
If this is a self-nomination, please sign below showing your consent. Date
Signature Please mail or fax this form to New York Physical Therapy Association 971 Albany Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110 q Fax: 518-459-8953
www.nypta.org
November/December 2016 • Empire State Physical Therapy 21
New York Physical Therapy Association A Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association 971 Albany Shaker Road Latham, NY 12110
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22 Empire State Physical Therapy • November/December, 2016
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