The issue of professional autonomy for Physical Therapists will be a headliner for 2008 political action groups. The American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), and Chiropractors have declared war on this profession.
Why? Physical Therapists are viewed as a threat to the monopoly that physicians have run in our health care system for quite some time in regards to the management of musculoskeletal conditions. With direct access laws in place in nearly every state, the reality that patients will have more control over who they see and the services they receive has many organizations fearing financial discomfort.
These attacks paint a pretty picture under the guise of ensuring continuity and high quality rehabilitation; however, the true motivation is to limit the Physical Therapists’ roll by keeping them as employees and to assure personal financial gain.
The January 2008 issue of the medical journal, Orthopedic Clinics of North America, is soley dedicated to limiting the professional rights and autonomy of Physical Therapists by ensuring physicians can own and operate their own imaging mills, occupational rehab centers, and of course, Physical Therapy clinics. You’ll even notice an article written by a Physical Therapist promoting these physician-owned clinics (POPTS).
Let it be known – Despite the grandeur statements about quality and continuity, the personal financial benefits are the root motive for these efforts. POPTS increase utilization of services, show increased visit numbers, and raise health care costs. I am more than willing to provide sound medical evidence in support of these statements. Likewise, these facilities limit YOUR (the patient) right to choose!
Contact your legislative representatives and let them know that you are against physician-owned ancillary services and you are are FOR direct access and autonomy rights as a patient (including the right to see the Physical Therapist of your choice).
For more information, see the consumer informationon APTA’s website or contact me at: physicaltherapyblog@gmail.com
2 comments
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February 22, 2008 at 11:13 pm
bobby
I would like to know where your evidence for the POPTS increases utilization services, increased visit numbers, and raised health care costs comes from. I am preparing to give a presentation on this topic in a few weeks and I am having a hard time finding current data. Any help would be appreciated.
February 26, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Derek
Start here:
Mitchell and Scott. Physician ownership of physical therapy services. Effects on charges, utilization, profits, and service characteristics. JAMA. 1992;268(15):2055-9.
You should be able to find the article pretty easy at your school/college.
(Adapted from the APTA Guide to POPTS)
State of Florida Health Care Cost Containment Study (1991). 3,000 health care facilities were surveyed. Found major overutilization of services by POPTs.
1. Physician-owned physical therapy facilities provide 62% more patient visits per full-time physical therapist, when compared with non-physician-owned clinics.
2. The patients referred have 43% more treatments (therapeutic exercise, ultrasound,etc.), when compared with non-physician-owned clinics.
In 1992, the William M Mercer Co studied California Worker Compensation Programs. The results of this study are as follows:
1. The study found that if an injured worker received initial treatment from a physician with ownership interest in physical therapy services,
that patient received a referral to physical therapy 66% of the time.
2. If, on the other hand, the injured worker received initial treatment from a physician with no ownership interest in physical therapy services,
the patient was referred to physical therapy 32% of the time, less than half the frequency of physician-owned clinics.
3. This study concluded that financial incentives played a major role in decisions. The added incentive for physicians with ownership interests in
physical therapy services was $233 million per year in California alone.
Hope this helps.