| News Links . . . . . The "Marketing to Healthcare Professionals Toolkit" is now available on the APTA Brandbeat website . . . . . |
Calendar:
| September 28-30, 2012 KPTA Fall Conference Holiday Inn Overland Park, KS |
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| Direct Access HB 2159 - The bill was introduced and discussed but did not make it out of committee. This bill would allow a physical therapist to initiate physical therapy treatment on a patient without referral from a licensed practitioner of the healing arts. If patient does not demonstrate objective, measurable improvement in a period of 45 calendar days from the initial evaluation, the physical therapist shall obtain a referral from an appropriate licensed practitioner prior to continuing treatment. House Health and Human Services Committee Hearing February 14, 2011 Proponent Testimony Ron Hein, KPTA Lobbyist Mark Dwyer, PT, KPTA President Pam Palmer, PT, KPTA Legislative Committee Chair Lisa Stehno-Bittel, PT, PT Education Glennis Svanda, Consumer of PT services Opponent Testimony Kansas Medical Society Kansas Orthopaedic Society Kansas Occupational Therapy Association Kansas Chiropractic Association Kansas Association of Osteopathic Medicine Physical Therapy Credentialing SB 76 - The bill passed out of the full Senate 39-0 and is now in the House Health and Human Services Committee. The next hearing is scheduled for March 9. The Senate Public Health and Welfare committee held a hearing on SB 76. This bill deals with representation of license, certification and credentials of doctors of physical therapy and physical therapist assistants. Proponents of the bill included KPTA lobbyist Ron Hein, Ms. Karen Bloom, Ms. Erin Hignight, and Ms Candy Bahner. The proponents argued that the bill would allow a psychical therapist who has the requisite doctorate education to be allowed use the word Doctor (and proper abbreviation) in front of their name. The proponents also argued that this change needs to occur, so that the public can truly understand what a physical therapist does. Senator Huntington asked how many years a physical therapist attends school after undergraduate. Ms. Bloom replied that physical therapist go to school 3 years after undergraduate. There were no opponents for this bill; however, KMS did provide testimony as a neutral party. KMS believes that when someone is using the word doctor, the public should know where the degree comes from and exactly what type of education the person has obtained. This information is all for the benefit of the patient, KMS argued. They added that in the state of Kansas, when a doctor is doing any advertising, it should clearly state if they are a doctor or not. Rep. Haley asked what about the case of the Kansas City Star newspaper where it does business in Kansas and in Missouri and whether a doctor has to identify themselves as a doctor. KMS replied that they should, because the responsibility lies with physician to comply with Kansas’ law. KMS also pointed out that there is a national movement for all medical providers (who are doctors) to be required to wear nametags with their official title when employed at any medical facility. KPTA has offered a compromise amendment to KMS in order for them to waive their objections to the bill. We expect the bill to be worked and voted out of committee this week and then it will be debated on the Senate floor the following week. Please contact your Senators this week; if they are in committee contact them immediately asking for support, otherwise let them know you expect the bill out of committee this week and debated on the Senate Floor in the near future. Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee Hearing February 7, 2011 Proponent Testimony Candy Bahner, PT, Education Carolyn Bloom, PT Mary Moore, KPTA ED Erin Hignight, Future PT Student Neutral/Opponent Testimony Kansas Medical Society Kansas State Board of Healing Arts |