Article of the Season

Colorado Chapter's Government Affairs Committee 
Keeps Busy During 2004 Legislative Session
by Kathy Voss, PT, Co-Chair

Your APTA/Colorado Chapter Governmental Affairs Committee spent this last legislative session reviewing all House and Senate bills for relevance to our profession, our clients and the health community as a whole. From an initial 100 plus bills, we began monitoring 34. At the end of the session, we had five that directly affected Colorado Physical Therapists: 

1)  Assignment of Auto Insurance Benefits, HB 04-1008, sponsored by Rep. Mark Cloer (R-Colorado Springs) and Sen. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs). This bill allows, but does not require, that the Insured person assign payment directly to the provider for treatment of injuries from an auto accident. The provider must notify the insurer of such assignment.

2)  Payment of benefits under a motor vehicle policy for medical payments coverage, HB 04-114, sponsored by Rep. Ray Rose (R-Montrose) and Sen. John Evans (R-Parker.) This bill prohibits an auto insurer from retroactively adjusting a claim payment 12 or more months after the date of the claim, except in the case of fraud or abuse.

3)  Prompt Payment of Auto Insurance Benefits, SB 04-125, sponsored by Sen. Ken Kester (R-Las Animas) and Rep. Shawn Mitchell (R-Broomfield.) This bill allows auto insurance claims to be submitted by mail, electronically, fax or hand delivery, requires insurer to confirm receipt of claim on day received and requires a clean claim to be paid, denied or settled within 30 days if filed electronically and within 45 days when filed by any other means. It also requires that claim forms to be uniform.

4)     Treatment of Autistic Children Under Medicaid, SB 04-177, sponsored by Sen. Ken Gordon (D-Denver) and Rep. Lynn Hefley (R-Colorado Springs). This bill requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to seek the federal authorization necessary to implement services to qualified autistic children. The treatment fund will be made up of moneys received pursuant to an increase in surcharges for convictions of driving under the influence violations and speeding violations.

5)   Health Care Provider Lien, SB 04-190, sponsored by Sen. Steve Johnson (R-Fort Collins), passed the Senate Business Affairs & Labor Committee but could not garner enough support to pass the full Senate. The bill would have allowed health care providers to file a lien on a patient's assets. This would be especially helpful under the current Tort based auto insurance system in Colorado. Currently only hospitals have this authority.

The first four bills were thoroughly debated by both houses of the Legislature, passed and were signed by the Governor. Plans are to bring the lien bill (SB 190) forward again in 2005. The complete text of all bills can be found and downloaded at: http://www.leg.state.co.us. Please note the names of the legislators who co-sponsored each of these pieces of legislation which are very favorable to physical therapy. 

This year also included:
· sending representatives to the APTA National Federal Affairs Forum; 
· visiting, writing and calling Colorado's congressional delegation in Washington, D.C.  Colorado Reps. Beauprez, McInnis, Musgrave and Udall signed on to the Medicare Therapy Cap Repeal bill (HR 1125). Reps. Musgrave, Tancredo and Udall signed on to the Medicare Direct Access bill (HR 792); 
·  supporting fund raising efforts and presenting contributions from our state and national Political Action Committees to the campaigns of legislators who support PT issues;
·  hosting legislators at events where PT issues are discussed;
·  providing representatives to the Colorado Division of Workers Compensation Task Forces on Carpal Tunnel, Cumulative Trauma, RSD and Brain Injuries;
·  monitoring and intervening in the Department of Regulatory Agencies Corporate Practice Issue;
·  hosting the annual Legislative breakfast at the State Capitol;
·  supporting audio conferences on "Insurance Issues" by Insurance Commissioner Doug Dean and "Changes in Medicare" by expert Nancy Garland;
·  AND this summer a task force will begin meeting with the medical payment community to improve direct payment under direct access statutes.

And, friends, this was a relatively quiet session!  This dynamic committee deserves the thanks of all therapists in Colorado for being the “WAATCHDOGS” of our profession.

--Kathleen E. Voss, PT , Co-Chair

(Ed. Note: After more than a decade of service on the Colorado Chapter's Government Affairs Committee, Kathy Voss has resigned her co-chair position. She will be sorely missed. She will continue her advocacy role with the Colorado Division of Workers Compensation.)

Chapter News

Chapter Presents 2004
Awards

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Colorado Chapter Outstanding PT for 2004
Greg McCall, PT, OCS, Owner of ALL PRO Physical Therapy, PC, Denver, fully fits the description of the "PT Expert" who practices patient-centered care and has a broad knowledge base, superior clinical reasoning skills and strong virtues and values. Click here for more about this award.

Outstanding Promotion of Physical Therapy
Each year, the Chapter chooses the clinic or facility that does the most outstanding job in promoting physical therapy during October – which is National Physical Therapy Month. This year’s award goes to Paul O’Brian, PT, CSCS, and his staff at Accelerate Physical Therapy in Arvada. Click here for more about this award.

Bob Doctor Service Awards 2004
Five Colorado PTs were honored with the Chapter’s prestigious Bob Doctor PT Service Award for 2004. Click here for more about these awards.
The award winners are:

Nancey Bookstein, PT, EdD, Westminster
Alice Davis, PT, MS, Parker
Ira Gorman, PT, MSPH, Evergreen
Heather Campbell, PT, MA, OCS, Edwards
Kathleen Yocum, PT, Fort Collins

2004 Academic and Clinical Excellence Award
for PTA Student
Congratulations to Lori Flint who was honored for her community involvement, commitment to personal achievement and leadership abilities. Thanks for your caring dedication to our profession. Click here for more about this award.

2004 Pauline Cerasoli Academic and Clinical Excellence Award for PT Student
Congratulations to Johnelle Shaw who was selected to receive this award for her drive, talent and service to the Physical Therapy community. Thanks for incorporating compassion into achievement.  Click here for more about this award.

Meet Your Newly Elected
Chapter Leaders

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Delegate at Large
Ira Gorman, PT, MSPH, BS, Assistant Professor, Regis University, Denver   

RBNA Representative for 2005 and 2006
Debbie Prather, PTA, BA, AAS, GOALS Program Coordinator / ILST, Interim HealthCare, Grand Junction  

Thanks to all these dedicated people who volunteer their time and energy to ensure our profession moves forward.

Click here to read more about these newly elected leaders

2004 Virtual Trade Show Unveiled

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Companies who sponsor or exhibit at Colorado Chapter events play a big part in the success of our events - both through their financial contributions and through their display of the latest products and services available to the practicing physical therapy professional. Many thanks to this year's sponsors who are featured in the 2004 Virtual Trade Show. Please remember them when you buy. 

Click here to visit the 2004 Virtual Trade Show

Upcoming Events

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Mark your calendars and plan to attend these outstanding upcoming APTA Colorado Chapter events! Click Below to Register...

14th Annual Fall Symposium
November 5-6, 2004
The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs

"Coding/Payment Policy Update"
by Helene Fearon, PT
Lunch & Learn Audio Conference
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 31, 2004

Prosection Series
"Go Back to Your Origins"
by Cliff Barnes, PhD
6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday,
September 21, 2004 ~ October 19, 2004 ~ November 16, 2004

Click here to visit the Colorado Chapter Events & Activities Page