Welcome to APTA Pennsylvania, a chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association

APTA Pennsylvania is a chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and represents more than 5,700 dedicated physical therapy professionals and students across the Commonwealth. With educational opportunities, networking, and resources for the PT professional, APTA Pennsylvania is committed to fostering advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education for its members and its community.

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Critical Practice Alert related to Government Shutdown:

• From APTA: Shutdown FAQs: Impact on Federal Payors, Health Care Practices, and Telehealth
• APTA released this article to alert physical therapist on how the government shutdown will affect operations of federal health care programs, like Medicare, Medicaid, telehealth, and more.
• From MLN Comments: Special Edition released by Novitas, the Pennsylvania Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Update on Medicare Operations: Telehealth, Claims Processing, and Medicare Administrative Contractors Status During the Shutdown
• Medicare: “When certain legislative payment provisions (“extenders”) are scheduled to expire, CMS directs all Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to implement a temporary claims hold. This standard practice is typically up to 10 business days and ensures that Medicare payments are accurate and consistent with statutory requirements. The hold prevents the need for reprocessing large volumes of claims should Congress act after the statutory expiration date and should have a minimal impact on providers due to the 14-day payment floor. Providers may continue to submit claims during this period, but payment will not be released until the hold is lifted.”
• Telehealth:
• Beginning October 1, many of the statutory limitations that were in place for Medicare telehealth services will take effect again…
• “In the absence of Congressional action, practitioners who choose to perform telehealth services that are not payable by Medicare on or after October 1, 2025, may want to evaluate providing beneficiaries with an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage.”
• “The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 allows clinicians in applicable Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to provide and receive payment for covered telehealth services to certain Medicare beneficiaries without geographic restriction and in the beneficiary’s home. There is no special application or approval process for applicable ACOs or their ACO participants or ACO providers/suppliers. Clinicians in applicable ACOs can provide these covered telehealth services and bill Medicare for the telehealth services that are permissible under Medicare rules during CY 2025, irrespective of further Congressional action. For more information access: CMS Telehealth Fact Sheet.”

 APTA Practice Advisory

• APTA and APTA Private Practice Join Lawsuit Over Health Care Price-Fixing “APTA and APTA Private Practice have joined the MultiPlan Antitrust Litigation as plaintiffs. This federal antitrust litigation alleges a conspiracy to systematically underpay physical therapists and other health care providers for reimbursements of out-of-network services.” Access this link for more detailed information.
• In a joint statement by APTA and APTA Private Practice, the association leaders reaffirmed their organizations' commitment to fair payment for physical therapists and condemned the illegal repricing practices.

Telemedicine Legislation Signed into PA Law

On Wednesday, July 3, Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, signed into law the “Telemedicine Act.”   This law authorizes the regulation of telemedicine by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania professional licensing boards and provides for insurance coverage of telemedicine.  As defined in this Act, the PA State Board of Physical Therapy now has the authority to regulate the use of telemedicine by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. 

This law will go into effect in 90 days.  APTA-Pennsylvania will provide more information and summarize details of the Act as information becomes available.

Update from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Regarding the Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Incident

Click here for more information.  

New: Research Survey Participation Opportunity