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The following is an overview of the information collected by the State Representative Network. The states not listed do not currently have a State Representative to the SPTS.  If you are interested in serving as a State Representative for the Section, please contact Bryan Heiderscheit, PT, PhD at heider@surgery.wisc.edu or (608) 263-5428.

 

 

ALASKA – Representative: Yasmin Lechtenberg

 

·  No new legislation to report from Alaska

 

ARKANSAS – Representative: James Fletcher

 

·  No report submitted.

 

CALIFORNIA – Representative: John Stithem

 

·  Fortunately or unfortunately, I have nothing to report for the State of California. I have looked at the CATA, Cal. Chiro. Assoc, Cal. Massage Therapy Assoc., Cal. Osteopathic Assoc. and nothing is happening at this time.

 

COLORADO – Representative: Richard Quincy

 

·  No report submitted.

 

DELAWARE – Representative: Keith Handling

 

·  No report submitted.

 

FLORIDA – Representative: Joseph Rusinowski

 

·  No report submitted.

 

GEORGIA – Representative: Bryce Gaunt

 

·  The legislature is currently not in session, however the Georgia Chapter of the APTA is gearing up to support direct access legislation that will be introduced when the new legislative session begins in January.  For more information or to become involved, please go to http://ptagonline.org

 

 

IDAHO – Representative: Alan Crothers

 

·  No report submitted.

 

ILLINOIS – Representative: Ricardo Fernandez

 

·  No report submitted.

 

INDIANA – Representative: Erin Barill

 

·  No report submitted.

 

IOWA – Representative: Shane McClinton

 

·  No significance legislative action or events have transpired this quarter.  The Iowa Physical Therapy Association is preparing for the annual fall conference to be hosted in Ames, IA on October 6-8^th.

 

KANSAS – Representative: Robert Manske

 

·  Nothing to report from Kansas.

 

LOUISIANA – Representative: John Guido

 

·  No report submitted.

 

MINNESOTA – Representative: Mike Muffenbier

 

·  Nothing to report from Minnesota this quarter.

 

MISSOURI – Representative: Jason Bennett

 

·  No report submitted.

 

MISSISSIPPI – Representative: Mark Weber

 

·  No legislative issues to report from Mississippi.

 

·  I would like to the opportunity to thank the APTA and all the individual physical therapists that have provided aid and support for those impacted by hurricane Katrina in south Mississippi.

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE – Representative: Esther Haskvitz

 

·  There is nothing happening on the legislative front.

 

·  Below are the upcoming NH Chapter activities:

  There will be a PT Wellness Workout (5K Race/Walk) on 9 Oct 05 at the Franklin Pierce College Concord Campus.

  The two evening lectures left in this year's series are:

  9/15  Core Stabilization, MARJORIE KING, PT, PhD

  10/6  Prosthetics, PAUL JENKINS, CP; CLAIRE DUBOIS, PT

Both will be held at 7:30 pm at the Concord Holiday Inn

 

NEW JERSEY – Representative: Mark Amundson

 

·  No report submitted.

 

NEW MEXICO – Representative: Grey Rudolph

 

·  No report submitted.

 

NORTH DAKOTA – Representative: Kevin Axtman

 

·  In North Dakota the new Practice Act went into effect August 1st.  We are now updating our rules and regulations to match our practice act within the next few months

 

OKLAHOMA – Representative: Terri Cassel

 

·  No report submitted.

 

OREGON – Representative: Tom Moline

 

·  No report submitted.

 

PENNSYLVANIA – Representative: Ivan Mulligan

 

·  Nothing to report in PA.

 

SOUTH DAKOTA – Representative: Ryan Torgrude

 

·  No report submitted.

 

TENNESSEE – Representative: Joe Black

 

·  No report submitted.

 

TEXAS – Representative: Ed Mulligan

 

·  The 79^th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature closed at the end of May and the Governor’s deadline to veto legislation expired on June 19^th.

 

·  HB 3332 was proposed to amend the Physical Therapy Practice Act to eliminate unnecessary referral requirements.  The goal of this legislation was to give patients the option, when they deem appropriate, of directly accessing physical therapy care, thereby enabling them to avoid the delays in treatment and the additional expense that result from a gatekeeper office visit.  Although the bill enjoyed some early support it did not make it out of committee hearings and ultimately did not pass.  Those who lobbied for the bill’s success felt that the experience served as an important educational experience and as will serve as a springboard for future legislation.  Planning for interim lobbying and educational efforts is continuing with the aim of obtaining passage during the next session (2007).

 

·  Also of considerable importance this session was legislation related to reform of the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission (TWCC).  After significant debate and discussion HB7 was passed which creates the following changes to existing law: In summary, HB7 basically made the following changes to the existing law:

(1) The Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission will be abolished (TWCC) as of September 1, 2005;

(2) The TWCC will transfer all of its powers to a newly formed Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) at the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and a newly created Office of Injured Employee Counsel;

(3) Authorized the creation of workers’ compensation health care networks for the provision of workers’ compensation benefits, while continuing the options for employers to provide coverage out of network, or out of the system altogether; and,

(4) Set up a new framework for administering workers’ compensation benefits in Texas.

 

·  Also of interest to many observers was HB 584 by Chairman Delisi.  This bill was frequently referenced as the “athletic trainer reimbursement bill”.  The bill was sponsored by the Chair of the House Public Health Committee, Representative Diane Delisi.  After significant amendments in its scope the bill was passed in the House in mid May.  The house bill's final language proposed an insured may select a license athletic trainer to provide the services scheduled in the health insurance policy that are within the scope of the athletic trainer's license.  The act only applied to a health insurance policy or contract or an evidence of coverage that would have been delivered beginning in 2006.  Ultimately, the bill did not pass as it did not come up for a vote in the State Affairs Committee of the Texas Senate in the final days of legislation.  I suspect this issue will be readdressed in the next legislative session with thoughtful perspectives offered by members of both the Texas Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainer's Associations.

 

·  Information for this report was taken from a report dated 6-27-05 on the legislative update page of the Texas Physical Therapy’s Association’s web site.

 

UTAH – Representative: Shane Schulthies

 

·  No report submitted.

 

WASHINGTON – Representative: Teresa Schuemann

 

·  The Consumer Protection Bill became law on July 24, 2005.  Continued contact with the legislators is recommended and now is a great time to thank those legislators for supporting this legislation.  PT Rally Day is scheduled for Jan. 19, 2006.

 

·  A new reimbursement specialist, Dan Swinscoe has been named and is already tackling some ongoing issues with Regence panel closure.

 

·  Medicare no longer requires patients to see the physician in person for an office visit every 30 days, only an updated prescription from the physician every 30 days which may be completed by fax.  The exception to this rule is if the patient is receiving wound care then he/she needs to continue to see the physician every 30 days.

 

·  Physical therapists completing sharps debridement must submit an affidavit to the Department of Health including evidence of adequate education and training.

 

·  Fall conference and Chapter meeting is scheduled for October 28-29, 2005. 

 

WISCONSIN – Representative: Steven McCoy

 

·  There are no significant developments for Wisconsin.