Pate Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX, issued a press release Nov. 28 announcing the launch of a new Spanish program as part of its evidence-based treatment and support for individuals recovering from acquired brain injuries. According to the release, ''this comprehensive linguistic and cultural approach maximizes the benefits of brain injury ...

I'm embarrassed to say it, but it wasn't until last week that I finally got a grasp of the Affordable Care Act and specifically its implications for the future of physical therapy. As part of our ''Evidence-Based Practice'' coursework, Everette James, director of the Health Policy Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, addressed our class ...

It has been a very busy week preparing, as best we could, for the changes we're currently experiencing. Working in a hospital-based, outpatient rehabilitation center, there had never been a dollar restriction on the visits allowed through straight Medicare. Beginning Oct. 1, we've been making patients aware of the amount they've used since ...

October 1 is just around the corner from now, and with it will bring changes to the allowances of physical therapy services for our Medicare population (along with occupational and speech therapy). I'd like to think that as a healthcare professional, we've always provided services that were medically necessary. With a cap of $1880, we are ...

Physical therapists who haven't been paying attention to the legislative battle raging in California might want to start. As the APTA detailed in its Aug. 30 press release, ''In California, a Rough Ride for Senate Bill 924,'' the latest salvo was just fired: ''California physical therapists have been infuriated by the legislative wrangling that ...

The first week of summer vacation has been relatively quiet. The most excitement has been switching from satellite to digital television in my home. Timing is everything. With Tropical Storm Debby hitting Florida, satellite would have been interrupted, so digital television was a great choice. Perfect timing, especially, because the flu bug has ...

Whew!! What a busy week... seems I've been saying that more and more these days. As this month rolls on, I am preparing to help my health care system close one outpatient department where I work as the interim director. Thankfully, an inpatient manager has been hired and is taking over by consolidating therapists, managing schedules, working on ...

On Feb. 22, President Obama signed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (HR 3630), noted a Feb. 24 press release from the APTA. Among other facets, this act extends the therapy cap exceptions process for the remainder of 2012. The law mandates consistent use of the KX modifier upon reaching the $1,880 therapy cap and puts in ...

An Oct. 14 press release from the APTA detailed the results of an intriguing new study in the journal Health Services Research. The study suggests ''the role of the physician gatekeeper in regard to physical therapy may be unnecessary in many cases'' and could have significant implications for the U.S. health care system. Funded by a grant from ...