Archive for December, 2009
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Being a physical therapist has pros and cons ranging from the joys of helping people, to the annoyance of dealing with paper work and insurance companies. Weigh the pros and cons of being a physical therapist with tips from an experienced physical therapist in this free video on career information.
Expert: Drew Norwood
Bio: Drew Norwood has been a physical therapist for more than eight years and works in South Jordan, Utah.
Filmmaker: Michael BurtonDuration : 0:2:24
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Occupational Therapy song and rap to TLC’s Waterfalls. Lyrics:
A homeless child hangin out on the street
And hes getting used to feeling neglected.
He joins a gang to give his life some meaning,
And to feel he finally is respected.
But hes not acting like a kid anymore,
Cause there are things to which he does not have access.
There are no meaningful occupations in which he can engage,
Hes suffering occupational injustice.
What does he need?
Occupational Therapy
Can provide this kid with new meaningful activities
He can learn art, music, dance, and make his way off the streets
With just a little OT
An older woman lookin outside her window
Confined to her home because of her weakness.
She hasnt seen the world in such a long time,
Cause she cannot go outside without assistance.
But theres no one around to take care of her,
Because she never had the chance to have children.
So she just let all her habits, roles, routines deteriorate.
Her quality of life is gravely diminished.
What does she need?
Occupational Therapy
Can get this woman out and about in her community.
She can develop new habits so she can restore her routines
With just a little OT.
Occupational Therapy
Focuses on all peoples skills of daily living
Whether it be social, leisure, work, rest, or mobility
Its all considered OT.
I seen an OT yesterday
She helped me regain,
Some of my function gave me hope that I could participate
In areas of occupation like play
Another way, to engage, in my life and its activities.
Evaluating my mood
Considering my values, beliefs, spirituality,
In all the things that I do.
Its true that my progress will rely
On my desire to comply, that I wont deny.
I found a way to cope
Just when I thought I lost hope
And I cant explain
All the gratitude I feel today.
Whos to say I wouldve made it without therapy?
Found a way to re-engage in my activities
That make me who I am, in my environment,
And let me understand all of the things that I know now I can accomplish.
Occupational Therapy
Is what you need to do.
So pick up a phone,
And find out how it can help you!
Thank you to TLC for their song, “Waterfalls,” which inspired this version….
Also…thank you Kristen (SLP) for singing with me!
~Marisa (OT)Duration : 0:3:53
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Insurance Drives Physical Therapists out of Business
HIP/EMBLEM insurance announced major cuts in reimbursement for Physical Therapy while increased salaries and bonuses for its executives. The action may threaten private practice Physical Therapy in New York State.
New York, NY (PRWEB) 22, April, 2009 HIP/EMBLEM insurance announced to its Physical Therapy participating providers a 20% reduction in reimbursement rates to be in effect May 1, 2009. Physical Therapists who do not agree with the reduction will be expelled from the provider panel. It appears that such a decrease in reimbursement serves to offset HIPs deficit for the new salaries to its officers: The New York Sun on 4/22/2008 reported that Anthony Watchon president of HIP doubled his salary to $4.79 million (FYI — $4.79 million is enough to provide healthcare for twelve months to nearly 1,400 people at $3,500 each). The newspaper stated: This is just a foretaste of what will happen if the state allows it to convert to for-profit corporation.
HIP has already been amongst the insurance companies with the lowest reimbursement rates to Physical Therapy and other medical services. If this reduction comes into effect it will trigger further reductions by many other insurance companies in New York State, leading to the extinction of private practice physical therapy.
At the same time, this reduction in reimbursement to Physical Therapy services will lead to a significant compromise of the quality of service of patients. Simply said, physical therapists will have to see many more patients per hour to accommodate for this change in reimbursement which will lead to a substandard service.
When HIP/GHI sought approval for the change to for profit status, they promised to the people of NY and especially their members that: Conversion to for-profit status will not affect service to our members, their access to doctors, their benefits, or the levels of service that they currently receive. Over time, as new products and services are introduced, members should see greater flexibility in types of coverage, more choice in benefit plans, and more customer-driven innovations that improve access to care. It is obvious that this promise has been broken because with such low reimbursement rates the level of service to the members will definitely be affected.
Many physical therapists in New York are already dropping out HIPs panel, while others have filed complaints with the Attorney Generals Office and the State Insurance Commissioner.Duration : 0:3:54