Physical Therapist Assistants

In The News

As a student or early professional, you may be looking for clinical mentorship, a safe space to discuss workplace issues, explore emerging issues and trends, and connect with colleagues. We will provide experts for each monthly topic. 

Join our monthly planning meetings the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm.

Your feedback and input shapes all we do. You can also submit a specific mentor night topic below. 

Position Paper: PTA Differential (3.2.22)

Beginning in January 2022, payment for Medicare Part B services provided by PTAs was reduced by 15% due to a provision in the Balanced Budget Act of 2018.

Potential Fee Schedule Reprieve Introduced in U.S. House (9.14.2022)

A bipartisan bill would provide money to offset anticipated 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule cuts.

Stabilizing Medicare Access to Rehabilitation and Therapy Act (SMART ACT/H.R. 5536)

This bill seeks to address elements of a pay differential system that cuts payment under Medicare by 15% when services are delivered by physical therapist assistants or occupational therapy assistants. Among the APTA-supported elements in the legislation: establishment of an exemption to the differential for rural and underserved areas, and adoption of less-burdensome general PTA and OTA supervision requirements for outpatient therapy under Medicare Part B. The change in supervision requirements is estimated to save CMS as much as $242 million over 10 years, according to a recent policy study co-sponsored by APTA.
Status: Referred to House Energy & Commerce Committee

Membership Benefits for PTAs

APTAMD has a PTA on our Board of Directors and provides funding for 2 of our PTAs to participate in APTA’s PTA Caucus. The Caucus is leading efforts to increase PTA representation within APTA to 10,000 members! From discounts to professional growth opportunities, including the growing PTA Advanced Proficiency Pathways program, APTA offers more benefits than ever before.

Resources for APTAMD members: mentorship, 34 (3.4) FREE continuing education units, discounted course fees for the annual conference, and implicit bias training.

The APTA Maryland has a PTA Caucus Representative, Kelly Yeager, who not only represents the Chapter with the National PTA Caucus but also assists the Chapter to be the point contact for our PTA members to discuss interests and needs. Our PTA Caucus Rep sits on our Board of Directors. In addition, we have an alternate PTA Caucus Representative, Stephanie Thomson.

PTA Spotlights

Check out our PTA Spotlights to learn about one of APTAMD’s active Physical Therapist Assistants by highlighting the excellent work provided by the clinician within our chapter. The articles will provide insight on why membership is important and how one views their career as a PTA.

APTA's PTA Advanced Proficiency Pathways

The premier program for increasing a PTA’s knowledge and skill in a chosen area of physical therapy. PTAs gain advanced proficiency knowledge and skill in one of the following areas:

  • Acute care.
  • Cardiovascular/pulmonary.
  • Geriatrics.
  • Neurology. (NEW pathway available!)
  • Oncology.
  • Orthopaedics.
  • Pediatrics.
  • Wound management.

Leading the Way

The Importance of Getting Involved with APTAMD and APTA
PTAs are crucial members of the physical therapy profession, with a proud history and a promising future. We need you on Chapter committees to make sure the PTA voice is a part of all facets of what we do. As a member you can join any committee. PTA leadership and involvement in APTA has brought about internal changes such as the Caucus and the full component vote, as well as external changes—such as a recent major policy change by TRICARE.
PTA Members Say it Best
"We need to be included in all the facets that advocacy stands for. For example, I don't have a job unless I get paid, I don't get paid unless I have legislators supporting my field, and I don't have legislators doing that unless I have my chapter's support."
"It's important to have legislators on Capitol Hill—or even just within your state—understand that physical therapy is important."
"Advocacy helps not only with insurance payments, but also with improving the quality of the physical therapy profession and with getting the word out about us on a national and even global scale."
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The Physical Therapy Compact & PTA Scope of Practice
Hear from Compact Administrator, TJ Cantwell and PTAs from DC, Delaware, Maryland & Pennsylvania on: 1. What type of supervision is required? 2. Can PTAs supervise Aides? 3. Can PTAs do telehealth? 4. Can PTAs do joint mobilizations? 5. Can PTAs perform grade V high velocity low-amplitude thrust techniques?
Watch Recording
How COVID Has Affected PTA Education, Practice, and Outlook
A one-hour APTA Live discussion with Krissa Reeves, PTA Caucus Delegate, and Amanda Johnston, PTA Program Director at San Diego Mesa College, where they will discuss the effects of COVID-19 on PTA practice, the outlook for PTAs within the profession, and the findings from Amanda’s 2020 survey that assessed data on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected PTA education in the classroom and in the clinic.
Watch Recording

Social Media

Connect with the PTA Caucus on social media.

Links