InTouch Newsletter: October 2024 
President's Report
Greetings & Happy Halloween,
Today marks the final day of National Physical Therapy Month (NPTM). It’s been a busy month for APTA-NE. In addition to enjoying the fall weather, college football, and the beloved pumpkin spice latte, your association’s leadership team has been hard at work.
Volunteers showed up to participate in a variety of events around PT Day of Service. It was especially great to see the Early Professional Special Interest Group (EPSIG) and Southeast Community College (SCC) PTA program set aside time to make an impact on their community.
Left: Pictured are members of EPSIG that spruced up Community Alliance’s Morningstar property in north Omaha, NE.
Right: Pictured are SCC PTA students that cleaned up Holmes Lake in Lincoln, NE.
The Nebraska Student Special Interest Group (NSSIG) has also been hard at work. Earlier this month they hosted a virtual residency information session that highlighted the eight different residency programs offered here in Nebraska through Creighton, UNMC, and Monroe-Meyer. NSSIG is also gearing up for the Nebraska Student Conclave coming up on Saturday, November 16th. We are expecting a big turnout and hopeful all will stick around for the Pub Night at Scriptown Brewing in the Blackstone District scheduled to immediately follow.
Over the past month APTA-NE has also continued to advocate for better reimbursement. I was thankful for the invitation to testify at the Health and Human Services hearing on Legislative Resolution 392. If approved, LR392 would green light an interim study to examine the costs and frequency of rebasing provider rates and develop a methodology for rebasing such rates in the Nebraska Medicaid system. This is an important first step to reverse an alarming trend. Since 2019, the number of practices accepting members of the Nebraska Medicaid system for physical therapy services has decreased by 40% and the number of physical therapy providers in-network has decreased by 79%. To make matters worse, OT and SLP numbers have almost paralleled ours.
Additionally, a coalition of Nebraska PTs, OTs, and SLPs have set meetings to educate state legislators and payors on the negative downstream effects reimbursement cuts are having on our labor force. We remain committed to exploring comprehensive solutions to enhance physical health services in Nebraska. And thanks to APTA and APTA Private Practice we have the recently released APTA Benchmark Report: Hiring Challenges in Outpatient Physical Therapy Practices, 2024 that sheds light on the key hiring and workforce trends. It also underscores the persistent difficulty outpatient clinics face in maintaining an adequate workforce to meet the demands of a growing and aging U.S. population.
Lastly, we are monitoring the Governor’s upcoming budget proposal and working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure patients have access to physical health services. As Governor Pillen prepares the two-year state budget for the start of the legislative session in January, he has asked all state agencies for budget cuts of 5%. For the Department of Health and Human Services to meet the $200M in cuts necessary to reach a 5% threshold, they have proposed eliminating and/or reducing Medicaid services that are not federally required. This would achieve budget savings through elimination of Medicaid services including prescription drugs for adults, Chiropractic, Dental, OT, PT, SLP, and vision services for adults, and breast/cervical cancer services. We strongly object to this proposal and will work with all necessary stakeholders to defeat this proposal if it advances in future budget drafts.
Sincerely,
Nick Weber, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Industry News
Mark Bertch, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT was recently appointed by Governor Pillen to the Nebraska Board of Health filling the physical therapist position on the 17-member board that was vacated when Don Ostdiek, PT, DPT resigned earlier this year. The Board of Health has the power and duty to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the government of the professions and occupations licensed, certified, registered or issued permits by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Licensure Unit. The Board also advises DHHS on public health issues.
To avoid a conflict of interest in his new role, Dr. Bertch has resigned from his APTA-NE position as State Affairs Liaison. APTA-NE thanks Dr. Bertch for his service and wishes him well in his new role. For anyone with potential interest in serving as the APTA-NE State Affairs Liaison or wishes to learn more about it please click here.
Other Important News:
APTA Combined Sections Meeting Registration Open – Early Bird Rates Available Until Nov 6th
APTA Members Get More: Featured Benefits
Congress Introduces APTA-Supported Bill to Increase Payment Under 2025 Medicare Fee Schedule
UHC Holds Firm on Prior Authorization Policies Despite APTA’s Advocacy
2024 House of Delegates - Disposition of House Motions by the Board of Directors
- This document communicates steps that the Board and APTA staff are taking to implement decisions made by the House and is a useful tool for understanding how the Board disposes of House motions dating back to 2014, and the deliverables APTA expects to produce based on actions of the 2024 House.
Awards
APTA-NE wants to extend our congratulations to Lisa Black, PT, DPT, FAPTA who was honored as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow during APTA’s Leadership Congress that took place in July in Kansas City, MO. This honor is the highest among APTA membership categories and recognizes APTA members who have demonstrated unwavering efforts to advance the physical therapy profession for more than 15 years.
Dr. Black is planning to retire in 2025 after 20 years of exemplary teaching, scholarship, and service to Creighton University and the profession as a whole. APTA-NE thanks Dr. Black for her service to our profession and wishes her well in retirement.
Calendar of Events
Compete with your colleagues, friends, and family to see who can run, walk, or roll the fastest 5k during our virtual race. You can even test out your navigation skills to see who can map out the most creative (turkey shaped, anyone?) route using the Racery App!
You can also log your time manually without the app. Complete your race at any time that is convenient for you during the week of Thanksgiving. Registration is $20 per racer. If you don't want to race, you can still support the NFPT by donating!
APTA-NE is sponsoring the Nebraska Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run on Saturday, December 7th at Papillion Landing. Grace Knott and Nick Weber are co-chairing the event and they invite you to join their team to be part of the original festive race for charity and signature Arthritis Foundation holiday event! Wear your favorite holiday attire!
Register as an individual or bring friends, family, and co-workers to run, walk or stroll, and spread the good cheer. Together, we’re raising funds to support research for arthritis treatments plus life-changing arthritis resources and local programs. Register today and use the code SPOOKY to get $5.00 off!
Program Update
College of Saint Mary PT Program
Creighton University PT Program
Nebraska Methodist College PTA Program
Northeast Community College PTA Program
Southeast Community College PTA Program
Career Center
Current Opportunities:
Physical Therapist Position in Beatrice
Beatrice Community Hospital Health Center
Job Posting
Sep. 25, 2024
Be sure to visit the APTA NE Career Center on our website to check out current job opportunities.
Post a Job
Are you looking for qualified candidates to bring on to your team? Reach the entire APTA Nebraska state-wide membership by purchasing a job ad on our Career Center. You'll also get up to two JOB FLASH emails to our members.
Find a Job
If you or someone you know is looking for a new PT or PTA position, this is a great place to find an opportunity! Check out the current job openings here.