WebPT Blog
-
32 CommentsNov 25, 2010| Heidi Jannenga PT
On this Thanksgiving Day, in an effort to give some insight to the people behind the scenes at WebPT, I wanted to share some things that we are so very thankful for. In these times of economic struggle for many, it's important to raise the nose off the grind stone and reflect on the things that we have accomplished and are thankful for. For so such a simple question, the answers are many, both simple and complicated all rolled into one. Thank you to all of our current WebPT members and encourage you to share your positive experiences with others.
We as a company are thankful for:
1. The thousands of users that have helped and continue to help shape the WebPT product into the best PT centric EMR system available.
2. The hard-working WebPT staff who have embraced our company culture, understand the dedication required for a start-up company and make coming to work fun anyday of the week.
3. The opportunity presented in front of us with an untapped market of eager professionals that are hungry for the technology revolution we are ready to provide.
Personally I am thankful for:
1. My husband Brad, whose patience, understanding, technical expertise and unconditional love has made working together so much easier than anyone could imagine. With the opportunity to build and create something with your best friend from just an idea scratched on a piece of paper 4 years ago is truly amazing and still unbelievable at times. His vision and entreneurship are truly inspiring.
-
Nov 20, 2010| Heidi Jannenga PT
Last night the Senate passed a bill by unanimous vote called The Physician Payment and Therapy Relief Act of 2010 (PPTRA) that allows a 30 day reprieve from the Medicare Final Rule and continue the existing 2.2% Medicare payment update that expires November 30.
The PPTRA also changes the multiple payment procedure reduction (MPPR) finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this month, by applying a 20% reduction, rather than the 25% reduction in the final rule for the second and subsequent outpatient therapy services provided and paid under the physician fee schedule (PFS). The savings will be used as savings to offset the cost of this 1 month extension instead of distributing on a budget neutral basis as in the Final Rule.
-
Nov 18, 2010| Heidi Jannenga PT
Some major changes are headed our way in terms of the 2011 Medicare Final Rule on the Physician Fee schedule and Other Policies to be effective January 1, 2011. The Rule included a number of provisions that have impact on outpatient therapy services. The net effect of the policies could lead to payment reductions of approximately 30%.
If you see Medicare patients and they impact your revenue, there are several things to pay attention to and deal with proactively. These changes pose a significant threat to a growing population of baby boomers and their ability to access PT. Changes to these payment reductions can only be averted through Congressional action. APTA is notifying its members of opportunities to advocate on behalf of the profession to eliminate these payment cuts and any developments associated with the implementation of the Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR). Many believe that an extension of the therapy cap exceptions process and a reprieve for Medicare Fee Schedule cut will be considered and with some heavy lobbying are expected to be passed. Please stay alert to these changes and be pro-active in standing up for our profession and the value of the services that we provide.
Here is a brief summary of these provisions to provide a better understanding of the rulings. For a more comprehensive summary for APTA members, please see the 2011 APTA Fee Schedule Summary.
-
Nov 15, 2010| Heidi Jannenga PT
The WebPT team attended and exhibited at the annual APTA PPS 2010 Conference last week in Washington DC. This conference emphasized the business side of PT and how to improve your practice. This year's focus was marketing and tools to build your business. In this time of declining revenues per visit, PT clinic owners are being forced to think outside the box and really go after referrals, improve their billing practices to maximize returns, develop creative staff retention ideas, and come up with alternative cash-based services that can be offered to increase revenues.Of the classes that I attended, several sessions stood out with information that could be taken right back to the clinic and implemented.
Practice Productivity
Kevin Basile, PT, OCS, MTC and Roger Nelson, PT, PhD, FAPTA spoke on productivity as a key strategy in practice management. As the decline in therapy procedure reimbursement continues, the logical thought to most is, "well, I guess I have to see more patients." According to Basile and Nelson, this is not necessarily the case. They advocate for change in the professional behavior and practice to be more productive:
-
Nov 3, 2010| Heidi Jannenga PT
WebPT launched our new website today with a new brand image. The new website is full of vibrant colors, powerful content and interactive components to attract new forwarding-thinking therapists. We also wanted to enhance our community presence among current members.Why did we change our look with a new brand?
The fresh, modern branding on our updated website demonstrates our commitment to continually bring innovation to the PT industry. The new brand reflects the world of PT: bold, energetic, modern and innovative. We are excited to update our image and will continue to innovate with leading edge physical therapy software.
