Employment of Physical Therapists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2008….over the long run, the demand for physical therapists should continue to rise as a result of:

• Increased number of individuals with disabilities
• Baby-boomers entering prime age for heart attacks and strokes
• Advanced technologies to save larger proportion of babies with birth defects
• Increased interest in health promotion

The CMS (Center for Medicare & Medicaid) announced last week that more than $36 million in bonus payments were made to many of the more than 56,700 health care professionals who satisfactorily reported quality information to Medicare under the 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).  Physical therapists and other eligible providers should receive their payments by August. 

What’s the average amount? An individual is expected to receive $600. Group practices are expected to receive $4,700 on average.

Those who have not yet become Physical Therapists (PT) can find some helpful information on what it is like to have such a rewarding career in Physical Therapy by viewing the APTA’s latest page by clicking here.

There’s a simple, but informative video that covers the question, “Should I Become a Physical Therapist”.  Pertaining to this PT video, APTA President R Scott Ward PT, PhD. states: “This powerful new video and Web page provides an up-close and personal view of the physical therapy profession,”  “The empowering nature of the physical therapy profession is sincerely and powerfully depicted in this video.” You can view the video by clicking here.

To help APTA members with less commonly used CPT codes identified in a survey of the Association’s reimbursement leaders, the Payment Policy and Advocacy Dept has added 4 new titles to lessen the confusion many PTs face. The four new papers include: Biofeedback and Urinary Incontinence, Patient Education, Orthotics and Prosthetics, Active Wound Care Management

Each paper discusses the services and CPT codes as well as references, and appealing process.

You can contact the Payment Policy and Advocacy Department via email advocacy@apta.org to obtain a copy.

May 23rd is the deadline for Medicare to begin paying claims ONLY to National Provider Identifier as the primary identification.  Physical therapists and other health care providers are risking denied claims and payment problems if they are not submitting batches of Medicare claims now to verify that their National Provider Identifier (NPI) is being recognized by their contractors.

Learn more about the NPI on Travel Rehab by clicking here. You will find details on the NPI including links to apply, and free access to view your current NPI data or status of an application.

An Occupational Therapy Consultant is not something new however, it is gaining momentum in the OT industry as a career opportunity. Most OT Consultants do not treat patients directly but rather assess a person’s abilities and surroundings and determine the best direction or change in their daily routines to make life easier and more accommodating. For example, a person concerned with their aging parent may hire an Occupational Therapist to review their driving habits and offer suggestions, devices or even training to help them drive safely and securely.

OTs may visit an office and devise a plan to make the work area more ergonomic ‘friendly’.  There are many uses and services that an Occupational Therapist can provide whether they are a consultant,  work in a school assisting children with special needs, or as a traveling OT.

As of April 17th, a  new law in the state of Minnesota is increasing patient’s access to Physical Therapist Services without the need of a referral from their Doctor.

The change gives patients 90 days of treatment from a Physical Therapist. Previously, patients only had 30 days without a referral. As APTA president R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD states; “Studies show what those involved in the physical therapy profession know to be true - that direct access lowers costs, improves access to care, and offers patients a greater choice of services. Minnesota has taken another step to improve health care quality for its citizens.”

Physical Therapists should be well aware of the impending May 23rd deadline for PT’s to use their NPI (National Provider Identifier) as their only provider number on Medicare claims. After May 23rd, Medicare will STOP paying claims on anything other than the NPI as their primary provider identifier. The APTA recommends to avoid denied claims and payment problems, physical therapists should be submitting batches of claims now to make sure that their NPIs are being recognized.

The APTA has also developed a web-based tool kit. Check it out by clicking here.

There are many benefits when it comes to job placement for a Physical Therapist. There are a multitude of settings where a Physical Therapist can practice. The most common place for a Physical Therapist to work is in a hospital. Most will find a few specific areas within the hospital where PTs work including:  Acute care, orthopedic, and Geriatrics.

Other job locations for PTs include schools, rehab facilities, outpatient clinics, private practices,  and nursing homes.

One of the hottest job opportunities involves Travel Therapy Assignments for both PTs and PTAs. As a traveling physical therapist, you have the ability to take on jobs in just about any facility mentioned above within the US and Canada. Most travel therapy jobs involve assigned times ranging from several weeks, to several months. Often times a job can turn into a permanent location for the PT.

Travel therapy typically includes benefits and housing as well as higher-than-average salaries for most Physical Therapists, and you can choose where you want to live!

Start your search for free with Travel Rehab’s extensive database of Physical Therapy Jobs throughout the US.

We’ve launched the newly redesigned website for Travel Rehab this week! The look is clean, easy to navigate and features many more options for those seeking a travel therapy career. We’ve also made it easier for employers to join Travel Rehab in finding the perfect candidate for their facility.

Whether you are a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, COTA or Speech Language Pathologist, you will find Travel Rehab to be an informative website to finding the best therapy job in the US.