APTA Home Health House of Delegates Town Hall & Listening Session Update

For those of you who were not able to participate in our virtual town hall on July 13th, it is available to listen to at your leisure at: https://vimeo.com/733689576/10b3c12641 

We had a great mix of members participating including current and past delegates serving other components. There are 22 current motions that were discussed with some highlights of the discussion noted:

RC 9-22: Non pharmacologic blood pressure management
(In the support statement of BP screening rates by PTs across settings were 4%, compared with Home Health settings of rates close to 100%!)

RC 10-14 Access to Physical Therapist Services in the Prenatal and 4th Trimester periods.
Many chapters involved with legislation in support of this concept

RC 14-22: Advocacy for Improved Access to Physical Therapist Services for Medicaid Beneficiaries
This motion encourages national APTA and state chapter efforts to improve access to PT services for Medicaid beneficiaries. A lot of the discussion revolved around although the federal government sets mandatory benefits that must be covered in all Medicaid programs, individual states administer Medicaid. Physical Therapy is not a federal mandatory benefit. Each state sets additional eligibility criteria leading to variable programs state to state.

RC 16-22: APTA’s Commitment to Being Inclusive of Individuals within LGBTQIA+ Populations
Resolves to create an inclusive environment and uplift LGBTQIA+ stakeholders, including members and non-member PTs & PTAs, students, patients/clients & society. Discussion: Do our Core Values cover this?

RC 17-22: Feasibility of Expanding Prescriptive Authority within Physical Therapist Scope of Practice
Prescriptive authority could include: specific medications, devices, health care services, DME, other equipment & supplies. Potential to help meet the needs of primary care. Discussion ranged from supporting of limiting scope of this motion to DME and wound care supplies, vs encouraging the wide scope to support our direct access and try to keep up with other providers such as NP, PAs, etc.

RC 18-22: Explore Opportunities to Enhance Engagement, Collaboration, and Knowledge-sharing in Physical Therapist Practice
To explore opportunities outside currently established framework of sections/academies. Info about one academy SIGs (Hospice & Palliative Care; Pain; Imaging) and multiple academies/councils (Balance & Falls in Geriatrics, Neurology, & Oncology with coordination of their work as the Trialliance), (Health Promotion & Wellness in Geriatrics, Neurology & Health Promotion & Wellness Council). Potential negative financial repercussions for our sections/academies

RC 20-22: Develop a Plan to Promote Equity in Pay Across Genders in the Physical Therapy Profession
A related motion will be coming out in Packet II on 7/15 as a Position Statement: Pay Equity on the Basis of Gender

And lots more but you’ll have to listen to the tape!

Some links that you might be interested in:

Phil and I would appreciate receiving additional input from our members on the motions and APTA leadership candidates. We will be representing you at a virtual House of Delegates on July 30th and in DC in-person August 14th & 15th.  

Our emails are: