In May, practitioners received correspondence from Anthem Blue Cross that AIM, a Utilization Review and Management company, will be taking over the authorization process for physical therapy services in Virginia effective August 1, 2022. Due to several issues with the rollout of this process, the effective date was postponed until September, and there is now a further postponement as a result of ongoing issues.

 

Please see the below announcement from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and affiliate HealthKeepers, Inc. directed at all providers who offer Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy.

 

 

APTA Virginia has been aware of the issue and continues to monitor as it is ongoing. This impacts patient access and clinic flow and incurs administrative burdens. On behalf of our members, we are in the process of advocacy efforts directed at legislators, Anthem executives, and other key personnel.

 

Our Payment & Policy committee are available to members for questions and to provide any resources we can within legal or ethical limitations. Please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have or if you are interested in joining the advocacy efforts.

The APTA Catherine Worthingham Fellows are sponsoring six scholarships for physical therapy students to attend the APTA CSM 2023 in San Diego, California. Students must be in their second or third year of physical therapy school at the time of the conference. Each $750 scholarship can be applied towards registration, airline, hotel, and/or meal costs. Applications must be submitted by September 30, and winners will be notified by November 8.

 

For additional information, please contact infoCWFellows@gmail.com.

If 2020 and 2021 were about reimagining the work of physical therapists, 2022 is about taking what we learned, saw, and felt and making lasting changes to our work in service of our patients and communities. This year's annual members meeting embraces the work in progress. Together we will consider what we learned in the past two years—what it means to be responsive in an everchanging landscape and how we define community, allocate resources, and find new ways to engage members and keep our association vibrant.

 

Join your peers and colleagues at the 2022 Annual Members Meeting on November 5, held in conjunction with the Fall Summit. Participate in conversations, workshops, and roundtables about ideas and projects, including those that aren't yet completely realized, and the risks, big and small, that physical therapy professionals are taking to change the field.

 

Attendance is limited to members only. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required to ensure ample seating and handouts available. Read More… 

Participant Sign Up: click here

Sponsorship Opportunities: click here

For more information contact: Erika Jenkins, Hallowheels Coordinator - erika@atdevicesforkids.org

Per the APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy: “In 1981 the APTA House of Delegates approved board certification in the area of pediatrics. The first pediatrics specialist certification examination was administered in 1986. Since then, more than 2200 Pediatric Specialists have been certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).”

 

Jennifer Baum, PT, DPT
Jenny lives in Roanoke, VA and provides early intervention and outpatient services in the surrounding areas. She completed the VCU Pediatric PT residency with the Children's Hospital of Richmond in 2021 and just became a PCS this spring. She is excited to continue learning with the pediatric population and participating with the VPTA PSIG.

 

David Downing, PT, DPT
David is a Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist, currently practicing outpatient physical therapy at the University of Virginia Children's Hospital. He completed a Pediatric residency and LEND Fellowship at Oregon Health and Science University in 2020, after earning his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Kentucky in 2015. He has experience practicing in inpatient, outpatient, school-based, early intervention and NICU settings, as well as teaching and developing DPT curricula. He currently serves as secretary to the Virginia Pediatric Special Interest Group, as well as provides contributions to the APTA Pediatrics Practice Development Committee. He is an active member of his local trail running community where he seeks to encourage others to find joy in movement.

 

Emily Glasson, PT, DPT
Emily is a board-certified specialist in pediatric physical therapy. She has a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She currently practices at CORA Physical Therapy in Blacksburg, VA where she treats infants and children with a variety of orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions.