July 2016 Newsletter

PRESIDENTS COLUMN
CONTENT
President Carrie
Abrahams Column
Insurance Updates

CARRIE ABRAHAM PT, DPT, MPH

PRESIDENT, WVPTA
It is summer time, a time for relaxation and reflection. Have you taken
some time to exhale? Sometimes it feels as if that time will never
comeI understand! But, in order to prepare ourselves to move
forward, it is good to slow down and reflect on where we have been.

WVPTA 2016 Annual

That is where I sit as I begin this new journey with the WVPTA. I have
been involved with the WVPTA Board of Directors for many years now
Conference Recap
in a variety of roles. I have seen and celebrated the associations
News from the
successes and I have felt its struggles. I also realize that the ride over
the next two years will see those same peaks and valleys. However, I
Practice Committee
have the greatest confidence in the volunteers who serve on our board
WVPTA Spring
of directors and our committees. I also have great faith in our
executive management team. I know that we will continue to do great
Conference- Student
thingsbut we can only do them TOGETHER. I made this comment at
Perspectives
our 2016 Annual Conference in April, this is YOUR association. I,
along with our leadership team, am working to serve you, the Physical
WVPTA Spring
Therapy professionals in this wild and wonderful state, and the
Conference Student
profession that we all love so much. In order to do that well - we, your
Scholarship
executive board, need to hear from you. We need and want to know
Recognition
what is happening in your practices and with your patients. We want
to know your thoughts as we strive to stay relevant and current, and
WVPTA Annual Golf
move the practice of Physical Therapy forward in the state of WV. I ask
Scramble Recap
you to consider becoming involved with your association. This may be
as a member of a standing committee, a volunteer for a short term ad
hoc assignment, giving an hour or two assisting during one of our annual events or simply calling to talk
to one of your board members about your practice experiences. The connections that you will make
professionally and the friendships that you will make personally are priceless! You get addicted to this
group of fun, passionate professionals! I know that I have!
If you have not already, you will soon be receiving notice of a membership survey. Please take a few
moments to complete it when you see it come through. This survey is vital to our work as your
association leadership team. A strategic planning meeting is scheduled for August 12-13, 2016 to set a
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course for our association for the next few years. The responses to this membership survey will help us
to identify the needs of the practitioners in our state as they relate to professional continuing education,
government affairs, reimbursement, public relations, etc. The information will arm us with knowledge of
the types of services that we need to provide to support the continued delivery of high quality PT care to
those we serve in WV.
I would love to hear from you dont hesitate to pick up the phone and call for a chat or send an email,
tweet or post. I am very much looking forward to working with all of you over the next two years! See
you soon!

INSURANCE UPDATES
SALLY OXLEY, PT, OCS, CHT, CMDT
WVPTA Payer Relations Committee Chair
PEIA The PEIA plan year begins July 1st and with that deductibles have to be met again. Beneficiaries
have a 2 week window to choose their plan, so it will be difficult to verify plans until this time has passed.
It appears that the benefit structure of the plan is essentially the same as last year.
Workers Compensation We are seeing that many workers compensation carriers are not authorizing
appropriate care for injured workers in a timely manner. It is recommended that providers contact
employers directly to inform them of the problems that arise with a delay in care; incomplete resolution
of the problem and delayed return to work.
Highmark We have seen a return of the Highmark plans that pay 80/20 for 20 units then 50/50, rather
than 80/20 for 20 visits, then 50/50.This may be occurring due to employers wanting to keep their old
grandfathered plans that are not subject to some ACA regulations.
Be aware of this since many times patients want to discontinue care when they reach the 50/50
threshold.
Joyce Landers, our longtime contact with Highmark, retired May 20th. She will be missed. Her
willingness to listen to and assist providers was most appreciated.
Medicaid Medicaid has resolved many of their problems with their new software system so payments
are coming in more consistently. There has been a recent problem with Medicaid not receiving
enrollment forms from providers. Once the enrollment form is faxed or mailed providers should follow
up to ensure they have been received.
Despite the fact that the legislature has a balanced budget there may be a shortfall at the end of the year
so providers may see a reduction or delay in payments.
If a provider does not participate with the Medicaid program it is possible for them to accept cash
payments from Medicaid patients. The patient must sign a disclosure that they know the provider does
not participate and they will be expected to pay for the service.
Medicare Beginning October 1, 2016 Medicare will begin to scrutinize ICD-10 codes more closely and
may deny care based on the appropriateness of the code. The order of the ICD-10 codes is important. If
you have a medical diagnosis code given by the physician, ie right shoulder pain, it needs to be the last
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THANK YOU TO OUR 2016 SPONSORS

code on the documentation form and the last one on the billing form. The codes chosen by the PT, ie
impingement of the right shoulder subsequent encounter, needs to be first.
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has stated that in their auditing, which currently does not
involve rehab services, they are looking to see that medical necessity is being documented. It is a key
point, so now is the time to audit and insure that all staff are documenting medical necessity.
Be aware that PT claims will be denied to outpatient providers if the patient has not been formally
discharged from home health. This is any home health care, not just physical therapy. Until Medicare
receives their billing with the discharge codes, the patient is not discharged and the claims will not be
paid. It is best to contact the home health agency directly to ensure that the discharge has been filed with
Medicare.

WVPTA 2016 ANNUAL CONFERENCE RECAP

KIMERAN EVANS DPT, PT
Education Committee Chair
A tremendous thank you to everyone who
attended our Annual Spring Conference in late
April! The conference witnessed the largest
attendance in recent years (130+) and we
were thrilled and honored to host Dr. Steve
Reischl in West Virginia. Dr. Reischl is a
nationally renowned orthopedic expert with
several practice locations in southern
California. He presented nearly 12 hours of
contemporary continuing education focusing
on the foot and ankle from background and
movement assessment to clinical application
and treatment. Many present at the conference
were able to problem solve through difficult
patient cases and receive guidance and advice
from Dr. Reischl. We were also pleased that, despite the rain, the first annual research mix and mingle
proved to be a nice addition to the conference and allowed for comradery and discussions around the fire
pit.
While we are thrilled with so many aspects of our 2016 Conference, the future looks just as bright! We
are excited to host Dr. Chad Cook in West Virginia this spring. Dr. Cook was just named the Chair of the
Duke University Physical Therapy program and is a leading clinician, researcher and professional
advocate within our field. His passions include refining and improving the patient examination process
and validating tools used in day-to-day physical therapist practice. Dr. Cook has authored or co-authored
three textbooks, has published over 165 peer reviewed manuscripts, and lectures internationally on
orthopedic examination and treatment. Dr. Cook will present on cervical spine management at Stonewall
Resort April 21st-23rd, 2017. Please mark your calendars for this event! Registration information will be
available October 1st, 2016. Great things are happening within WV PT!
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NEWS FROM THE PRACTICE COMMITTEE

RHONDA HALEY PT, DPT
Practice Committee Chair

#ChoosePT
The APTA is conducting a
national awareness campaign
emphasizing the option of
choosing physical therapy
services to help a person
manage pain. The Centers for
Disease Control and
Prevention has been urging
health care providers to use
safe alternatives such as
physical therapy in the
treatment of pain instead of
prescribing opioids. In some
situations, prescription opioids
are an appropriate part of
medical treatment. However, the risks associated with opioid use can include depression, overdose,
addiction, and withdrawal symptoms when stopping usage. In addition, people addicted to prescription
opioids are 40 times more likely to become addicted to heroin.
The APTA website has many resources to assist with this campaign. Please visit the APTA home page to
find this topic or go to http://www.moveforwardpt.com/ChoosePT. Here are a few of the topics within
the campaign that you can utilize to educate others:
Opioids vs Physical Therapy - Learn when to #ChoosePT.
9 Things to Know About Pain - Pain intensity and injury severity don't always match.
7 Staggering Statistics - Explore stats about the opioid epidemic.
Assess Your Pain - Use this chart to help determine your care.
Find a Physical Therapist - Search our national database of physical therapists.
How Physical Therapists Manage Pain - Learn about safe and effective treatment.
Campaign Toolkit - Support the #ChoosePT campaign.
The WVPTA Board is working within the state to promote the #ChoosePT campaign. Please contact the
President, Carrie Abraham, or any other member of the Board in order to find out more about this topic
or to learn how you can assist with this campaign.

WVPTA ANNUAL SPRING CONFERENCE

STUDENTS PERSPECTIVE
First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to the WVPTA. I appreciate the fact that the
association is committed to helping students attend the annual state conference. In regards to my
experience at the conference I can honestly say that it was refreshing. Refreshing in the sense that it was
nice to see healthcare professionals gather in an effort to expand, or perhaps refresh upon, their
knowledge. I felt a sense of pride when I first walked into the huge conference room in which the event
was held. All of the people in that room had a common goal to better themselves so that they were better
equipped to treat their patients effectively. That was the highlight of the conference for me.
As a student, Im far too familiar with non-stop learning but I havent really put too much thought into
continuing education. The conference provided me with a nice reminder that things in the world of
healthcare are constantly changing and that its important to keep yourself up to date on pertinent
information related to physical therapy. The WVPTA annual conference is definitely something I would
recommend to fellow students and graduates. My experience at the conference was one I wont soon
forget.
Devin Heitz, SPT

The annual WVPTA Spring Conference 2016 was the first physical therapy conference I have attended. As
a first year student, I was very excited to see a new side of this profession. Since Stonewall Resort is in my
hometown, and it was also my employer for the previous four years, I could not think of a better place for
this conference to be held. Just walking down the hall when I first arrived, I could feel the energy from the
professionals around me who were buzzing with excitement for the day ahead. Dr. Reischl was such an
eloquent speaker, and he seemed so personable. As a first year student, I wasnt expecting to understand
everything that was being discussed, but between my education up to this point and his ability to make
the information very relatable, I was pleasantly surprised with my ability to understand and remain
engaged in his presentations. When we were doing gait analysis in small groups, he even took time to
come to the back of the room and take part in the activity with us for a few minutes. He exceeded my
expectations, and I was able to see on a personal level how passionate he truly is about his work. Though
I am currently unsure of what patient population I would like to work with, I hope to be as passionate
about my work as Dr. Reischl proved to be.
I think my favorite part of the conference though was the business meeting. We were there to enhance
our understanding of the foot and ankle, and it never occurred to me that I was sitting in the same room
as those who work hard on the more political side of the profession. It was amazing to be sitting there
getting the most up to date information about our profession and how it is changing straight from the
mouths of those who are dedicated to making positive changes for physical therapists and the patients
we see. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to attend this conference, and I can already tell that
this was the first of many I will attend as my career progresses. I look forward to attending other
upcoming events and potentially getting more involved with the organization in the future.
Kari Sims SPT
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WVPTA ANNUAL SPRING CONFERENCE

STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIP RECOGNITION
I was honored to receive a scholarship from the WVPTA chapter in order to attend the conference held at
the Stonewall Resort. This was my first experience at a professional physical therapy conference and it
was a great one. Although I only was present at the conference for one day, I got a glimpse of my future as
a physical therapist. I was pleased to see that so many clinicians and educators there for not just their
own benefit, but for the benefit of their patients and students. I was inspired by the amount of knowledge
that was spread throughout the room, whether it came from the speaker (Dr. Steve Reischl) or just in
side conversations between clinicians and students. The yearning for knowledge was definitely evident
throughout the conference; individuals werent just there because they were required to be but because
they wanted to be. This was wonderful for me as a student to see because you could tell that the clinicians
still held love and passion for their career even after years of experience.
Speaking from a students point of view (especially as a first year), I expected to be clueless during my
entire experience at the conference. However, I wasnt completely in the dark and was able to appreciate
some of the points being made about the foot and ankle and the gait abnormalities associated with
pathologies in that area. Last fall semester I was enrolled in Kinesiology along with the rest of my 39
classmates and I think one of the hardest units for most of us was the one on gait. Personally, I thought I
didnt learn as much as I should have from the unit because it seemed so overwhelming at the time, but
during the session in which we watched each other walk I was able to pick up gait deviations pretty easily
as I observed my classmates. I felt a sense of satisfaction and it made me realize how much I love the
profession of physical therapy. I hope that this is the first of many state conferences I am able to attend
because I am eager to learn more as I continue school and one day transition to a clinician.
Kristina Hickenbottom, SPT

Marshall University student Kayla Willis was recently awarded the WVPTA Student Scholarship to attend
the Combined Sections Meeting for The American Physical Therapy Association in Anaheim, California.
Kayla Willis, a third year student at Marshall University, attended the conference from February 17-20,
2016 to present her groups capstone research of A Systematic Review of the Measurement Properties of
the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire. She was accompanied by her fellow group members Maggie
McBride and Kayla Workman as well as their research advisor Dr. Saurabh Mehta, PT, PhD.
During the first few days of the conference the scholarship recipient attended various sections to further
her knowledge on current research and advances being made in the profession. She enjoyed attending
multiple pediatric sections throughout the conference. She was able to visit the vendors booths and
receive information about new technologies and the latest innovations being used. Kayla also won PT
flash cards to assist her in study for the national board exam from the Scorebuilders booth.
Kayla and fellow group members visited poster presentations on Friday to observe the latest research
being presented and to support fellow Marshall University students Karlen Vinci and Melissa Kahlig as
they presented their research findings. On Saturday February 20th Kayla and her group members
attended the hand and upper extremity section to present their findings during platform presentations.
The presentation lasted about 12 minutes and the group welcomed questions afterwards. Being able to
present research at a national conference as a student, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Without the
assistance from the WV American Physical Therapy Associates award this opportunity may not have
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been possible. Kayla stated she was very thankful for the help provided by the WVPTA and encourages
students in the future to take advantage of such an amazing opportunity.
KAYLA WILLIS

WVPTA ANNUAL GOLF SCRAMBLE RECAP

BRANDON BEACOM DPT
Communications Committee Chair
We luckily chose a beautiful day for the WVPTA 3rd
Annual Golf Scramble this year. About 50 players came
out to play golf at the stunning Stonewall Resort Arnold
Palmer Signature Course on the weekend of the WVPTA
Annual Spring Conference.
Each player grouped up into teams of 4 for this scramble
tournament. Congratulations to our first, second, and
third place teams; longest drive, longest putt, and closest
to the pin winners. Unfortunately, no one won the
coveted Hole-in-One for a Chevrolet Camaro this year.
Hopefully we have a big winner next year!
The WVPTA also appreciates Roger Sack with Paralyzed
Veterans of America. Roger is a stroke survivor who has
found a way to play one of his favorite sports. He not only
Roger Sack, a golfer with paraplegia, is able
played in the scramble, but also offered a free display of a
to play one of his favorite sports thanks to
specialized adaptive wheelchair that allows him to play golf
this specialized wheelchair.
with 2 paralyzed legs. If you find this specialty interesting
and would like to learn more, please contact me at
beacom2012@gmail.com and I will get you in contact with Roger!
Also, a big thanks to all of our sponsors. This golf scramble would not have been possible without their
support. We are already looking forward to next years scramble. Be working your irons and woods and
be ready for the WVPTA 4th Annual Golf Scramble in 2017!!