A group of physical therapy businesses joined forces to form an industry advocacy group, The Physical Therapy Business Alliance (PTBA). The national alliance is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky and includes some of the most respected physical therapists in the world. The primary goal of the PTBA is to help state and federal legislators make informed decisions about access, reimbursement, and regulatory issues which create a barrier between patients and valuable, affordable physical therapy care.
At its inception, the PTBA represents over 30 Practices in more than 20 states with over 250 locations and 750 licensed therapists. A national recruitment campaign targeting general membership was launched at the beginning of December and will continue throughout 2012.
The need to form a formal coalition arose from the results of a Physical Therapy Sustainability and Representation survey conducted by PT Development CEO and PTBA Board Member, Larry Benz DPT, ECS, OCS . The survey was launched from the Evidence In Motion blog, My Physical Therapy Space, and garnered a response from more than 800 physical therapists. According to Benz, the survey results revealed that the respondents had clear, constant legislative and regulatory issues and wanted a platform to discuss their concerns, collaborate, and share best practices with other independent physical therapists. Benz and a core group of physical therapists acted quickly and after a series of conference calls, legal consultation, executive and board development, the PTBA was founded.
“Although we have made a number of strides in recent years toward a more contemporary recognition of the physical therapists role in healthcare, we still face many challenges,” states Benz. “A forum needs to exist to consolidate resources, leverage our successes, and pass needed legislation.”
The PTBA is governed by a nine-member board of directors comprised of dedicated private practice business owners and physical therapy educators. Board representatives were selected from the alliance‘s Founders Circle Members who led the initiative and provided much of the support to get the association started.
The first Chairman of PTBA is Dr. Carl DeRosa PT, PhD, DPT, FAPTA , a Professor of the Physical Therapy at Northern Arizona University and co-owner of DeRosa Physical Therapy in Flagstaff, Arizona. “I’m honored and excited to lead the alliance at a time when we have a golden opportunity to elevate the physical therapy profession and the role of the physical therapist in the modern health care environment,” states DeRosa. “As a united voice, the PTBA will rally around the challenges we deem as threats to effect change at both the state and federal level. Our principle areas of advocacy are as follows:
• Reimbursement Commensurate with Value – As low cost, minimally invasive, preventative and restorative medical care, PT is essential and the best value in healthcare.
• Freedom to Practice – As the industry sees fit. Licensed physical therapists have the training, knowledge and skill to determine how to deliver care.
• Unrestricted Access for Patients –As independent professionals, licensed Physical Therapists can evaluate, treat and be reimbursed as such.”
While the PTBA is an independent association, the group will work collaboratively with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), as well as other PT related associations and stakeholder groups. To illustrate support, all PTBA members are required to be members of the APTA – Private Practice Section. For more information about PTBA, visit their website at www.ptballiance.org.
About PTBA
PTBA is on a mission is to build a network of private practice physical therapy businesses to elevate the role of the physical therapist in the modern healthcare environment. Our business alliance will provide resources to promote the success of the private practice physical therapist, raise the standards of excellence in the industry, and communicate a strong and consistent message that private practice physical therapist businesses undoubtedly represent the best value in healthcare. We seek to become a powerful voice for free enterprise in physical therapy in environments such as Congress, regulatory agencies, and the all-important court of public opinion. Likewise, our vision is to provide focused, agile, and unencumbered response to legislative and payment challenges to improve business conditions for independent physical therapy practices.
