Maley Lecture Emphasizes Health Care Reform
BALTIMORE--On Friday, June 12, Helene M. Fearon, PT, was honored with the 14
th annual Maley Lecture. Since 1996, this lecture has been an integral part of APTA's annual conference. Fearon, a graduate of Marquette University's physical therapy program and co-owner of Fearon Physical Therapy, has experience in reimbursement, fiscal management and health policy as it relates to rehab services. She lectured on the topic, "Perspectives on Functional Reform for an Impaired Payment System."
Fearon walked out on stage and told the applauding audience, "I feel like a 5-year old who was waiting for Santa Claus." She borrowed a quote from Aristotle to set the tone of her lecture: "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
Fearon then went on to explain that major reforms need to be made in the health care system. Two flaws in the health care system continue to be wasteful spending within the Medicare program and provider reimbursement, she said.
She proposed to disrupt the current model in order to move a payment system that supports effective and efficient value-added care.
"Disruptive business models improve quality access and affordability by changing the way hospitals and office-based practices work," she explained.
What do you think you are worth to a health care system, she asked the audience. What do you think a payer thinks you're worth? Unfortunately, PTs collectively still have a need to communicate how the interventions chosen are related to the functions they wish to insure.
"Are we dangerously close to promoting a profession to the public and the payer that cannot yet live up to its own billing? Are we setting ourselves up for a scenario in which we are over-selling and under-delivering in an environment that is demanding more for less?" she asked.
For more on the Maley Lecture, read our conference wrap in the June 29th issue of ADVANCE.