June 2019
Volume 21, Number 6
Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
In this News Brief:
Get Ready for LIF!
Prepare your attendees for the Leadership Issues Forum (LIF)—July 13-14, 2019!
- Compile a list of items you would like to discuss with other member jurisdictions and the FSBPT Board of Directors. LIF is an excellent opportunity to have meaningful dialogue and discussion and provide input from your jurisdiction to your Board of Directors.
- Are you a first-time delegate or funded administrator? This meeting also helps you prepare for your role at the Delegate Assembly in October. Jot down your questions now!
We encourage you to discuss the above with your fellow board members and to give your questions and topics to your LIF attendees.
LIF Travel Authorizations
The Leadership Issues Forum is an invite-only event for funded administrators and funded delegates. (Alternate delegates can attend instead of the funded delegate when the funded delegate is unable to make it.)
We have sent travel authorizations to everyone who has confirmed their attendance. If you are an administrator or delegate who has not booked your travel and you are planning to attend, please contact us ASAP at communications@fsbpt.org.
Final Date to Submit Motions for the 2019 Annual Meeting
The deadline for submitting motions to the Resolutions Committee via email is 9am ET Friday, July 26, 2019.
For those who are new jurisdictional board members or serving for the first time this year as a Voting Delegate, we encourage you to read the current Bylaws and Standing Rules to better understand the role of the Resolutions Committee and the motion submission process. You can also direct questions you have about the process to the Resolutions Committee.
PT Compact Updates
Compact privileges will be available for the state of North Carolina starting Monday, July 1, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. EST. This will bring the total number of states issuing compact privileges to fourteen, following Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.
Back to Top
INPTRA 2019 Presentations
In May, physiotherapists, regulators, stakeholders, and accreditors from across the globe came together in Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the biannual INPTRA Conference. There were several presentations, café sessions, discussion groups, and poster presentations on important topics such as regulatory challenges, digital practice, assessing entry-level competence, physiotherapy standards, and more. Many of the presentations are available on the INPTRA 2019 conference page.
Staying Informed
You may have noticed we recently switched to a new email communications provider. Constant Contact allows us more design options, enhanced tools, and increased flexibility. While we have transferred our contact lists, you can ensure that you receive the notifications you want by subscribing directly to the following communications:
NPTE Workshop for Educators—Now on the West Coast!
FSBPT is preparing to host the NPTE Workshop for Educators Saturday and Sunday, October 5-6, 2019, in Los Angeles, California, at the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport. Like the workshops held at the FSBPT offices, attendees should expect to receive valuable insights on how the NPTE is developed and how to prepare students for the NPTE as well as hands-on assistance in writing test items similar to those on the NPTE.
Please check the NPTE Workshop for Educators webpage for more information and registration resources as we continue to update and solidify details.
The Purposes of the ELDD
In the early 2000s when FSBPT first planned its Examination, Licensure, and Disciplinary Database (ELDD), the federal government was implementing the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) and the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB). (Effective May 6, 2013, the NPDB and the HIPDB merged into one Data Bank: the NPDB).
Federal law required that adverse actions taken against a health care professional's license be reported to these data banks by state regulatory boards. The federal government released a list of Basis for Action codes for reporting purposes; unfortunately there were no specific definitions to accompany the codes and NPDB has never developed any.;
Once all jurisdictions were required to report to the NPDB‐HIPDB, FSBPT decided to use the same Basis for Action Categories for the ELDD as the NPDB‐HIPDB. This was to avoid duplication and keep things as simple as possible for the FSBPT members filling out NPDB‐HIPDB reports.
The purpose of the ELDD is manifold. Most importantly, it serves as an alert mechanism for physical therapy licensing boards. If a licensee holds multiple licenses and gets disciplined in one jurisdiction, the FSBPT ELDD will alert the other jurisdictions in which the individual is licensed. This “push” notification system prevents sanctioned individuals from moving across state lines to avoid the effects of disciplinary action. This alert system is critical for public protection.
However, beyond this the database can also be a rich source of data from which evidence-based regulation can be developed. That said, the quality of the research is only as good as the data. Without specific definitions for the categories, it is impossible to determine when to use one category versus another. As a result, every jurisdiction was categorizing the data differently. Without consistency, the data has limited, if any, use.
To help solve this problem, the FSBPT Board of Directors appointed the Disciplinary Categories Task Force to develop definitions and guidelines for how and when to use the categories. The task force was represented by four different jurisdictions as well as a board attorney. Over the course of several months, they defined and refined the categories. They used sample cases to test their definitions. FSBPT developed the Basis for Disciplinary Action Definitions and Descriptions, a tool that defines and categorizes the basis for disciplinary action. It includes definitions and guidelines to help state licensing authorities understand how to report disciplinary actions and select the most appropriate code.
FSBPT encourages anyone reporting physical therapy disciplinary actions to use these definitions. This will establish a level of consistency that will allow the data to be used to determine trends, focus on prevention, and evaluate the effectiveness of remedial actions.
Back to Top
Spotlight on Member Resources: Acronyms A-Z
FSBPT members and staff use a variety of acronyms. We have compiled
a list of these acronyms along with what they stand for, their descriptions, and links to websites when appropriate.
Our Gratitude for Volunteers
This month, we thank the generous volunteer members of these groups for their support of our mission:
Exam Development Committee-PTA
JAM Item Writers
Regional Item Writers
In the News
"Report recommends sweeping changes to B.C.'s dental surgeon regulations after ‘ongoing dysfunction,'" The Globe and Mail, April 11, 2019
"The oversight body for British Columbia’s dental surgeons has sometimes put the interests of dentists ahead of those of the public, an expert on professional regulation has said, citing in his report the handling of a case that left a young woman with brain damage.
"Health Minister Adrian Dix asked Harry Cayton last year to review the administrative and operational practices of the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia, and the province’s health professions act. His report recommended sweeping changes to how dentists and other health professionals are regulated. He raised concerns about record-keeping and internal communications.
…
"B.C. has 26 regulated health professions, of which 25 - including doctors, dentists and nurses - are governed by colleges under the Health Professions Act. One profession, emergency medical assisting, is regulated by a government-appointed licensing board under a separate statute."
"With Labor Market Tight, Some States Loosen Rules for Licensed Jobs," The Wall Street Journal, June 9, 2019
"...Some states, grappling with a tight labor market, have passed laws that enable licensed workers to cross their borders to find work. Analysts say this type of policy, if it spreads, could boost the size of the national workforce and potential U.S. economic growth."
"Burnout is officially a medical condition, according to the World Health Organization," USA Today, May 28, 2019
"The work-related stress, which has been unofficially embedded in the cultural zeitgeist for years, has been officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) through a revision of the International Classification of Diseases — a handbook for doctors and health insurers."
"Statehouse Roundup: Licensure Compact Progress; Chapters Press for Changes to Direct Access, Pain Management Policy, Payment, and More," PT InMotion, April 2, 2019
"Connecticut and North Dakota are making changes to the composition of their physical therapy boards, with Connecticut possibly eliminating rules that require a physician to be a member of the board and North Dakota reducing physician board members from 2 to 1—and adding a PTA member. The North Dakota bill is now on the governor's desk."
"The Indiana Physical Therapy Practice Act Will Change On July 1, 2019," Indiana Chapter – American Physical Therapy Association
"The key updates are the following:
- Creation of a 5-person Physical Therapy Board to regulate the practice of physical therapy in Indiana.
- Expansion of direct access from 24 days to 42 days.
- Recognition of dry needling as being within the physical therapy scope of practice.
- Provides improved 'title protection' for licensed physical therapists and for the term physical therapy.
- Removes the ability of a physician to supervise a physical therapist assistant.
- Adds a definition of 'physical therapy aide' which is a person who performs designated and routine tasks related to physical therapy services.
- Limits the times that the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) can be taken to 6."
"Too Much Focus on Productivity Increases Risk of Unethical Behavior, Say Researchers," PT InMotion, March 22, 2019
"Employers that overemphasize productivity goals over evidence-based practice (EBP) may inadvertently set the stage for unethical behaviors by physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs), say authors of an unedited new study published ahead of print in Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation. Organizational culture, say authors, is 'the most easily changeable' factor in promoting ethical behavior."
"National Survey Indicates Majority of Physician Misconduct Goes Unreported," Federation of State Medical Boards, May 30, 2019
"Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69%) do not know that a state medical board is the best resource to contact first if you have a complaint about a physician’s competence or conduct."
"Study: Burnout Comes at a (Literal) Cost to Organizations," PT InMotion, June 4, 2019
A recent study found that physician burnout costs about $4.6 billion annually.
"Therapy Clinic Operator Convicted of Health Care Fraud for Role in Occupational Therapy Fraud Scheme," US Department of Justice, May 29, 2019
"A federal jury found a Brea, California, woman guilty yesterday of fraud charges for her role in a $6 million Medicare fraud scheme involving billing for occupational therapy services that were not medically necessary and not actually provided."
Back to Top
In this News Brief:
Get Ready for LIF!
Prepare your attendees for the Leadership Issues Forum (LIF)—July 13-14, 2019!
- Compile a list of items you would like to discuss with other member jurisdictions and the FSBPT Board of Directors. LIF is an excellent opportunity to have meaningful dialogue and discussion and provide input from your jurisdiction to your Board of Directors.
- Are you a first-time delegate or funded administrator? This meeting also helps you prepare for your role at the Delegate Assembly in October. Jot down your questions now!
We encourage you to discuss the above with your fellow board members and to give your questions and topics to your LIF attendees.
LIF Travel Authorizations
The Leadership Issues Forum is an invite-only event for funded administrators and funded delegates. (Alternate delegates can attend instead of the funded delegate when the funded delegate is unable to make it.)
We have sent travel authorizations to everyone who has confirmed their attendance. If you are an administrator or delegate who has not booked your travel and you are planning to attend, please contact us ASAP at communications@fsbpt.org.
Final Date to Submit Motions for the 2019 Annual Meeting
The deadline for submitting motions to the Resolutions Committee via email is 9am ET Friday, July 26, 2019.
For those who are new jurisdictional board members or serving for the first time this year as a Voting Delegate, we encourage you to read the current Bylaws and Standing Rules to better understand the role of the Resolutions Committee and the motion submission process. You can also direct questions you have about the process to the Resolutions Committee.
PT Compact Updates
Compact privileges will be available for the state of North Carolina starting Monday, July 1, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. EST. This will bring the total number of states issuing compact privileges to fourteen, following Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.
Back to Top
INPTRA 2019 Presentations
In May, physiotherapists, regulators, stakeholders, and accreditors from across the globe came together in Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the biannual INPTRA Conference. There were several presentations, café sessions, discussion groups, and poster presentations on important topics such as regulatory challenges, digital practice, assessing entry-level competence, physiotherapy standards, and more. Many of the presentations are available on the INPTRA 2019 conference page.
Staying Informed
You may have noticed we recently switched to a new email communications provider. Constant Contact allows us more design options, enhanced tools, and increased flexibility. While we have transferred our contact lists, you can ensure that you receive the notifications you want by subscribing directly to the following communications:
NPTE Workshop for Educators—Now on the West Coast!
FSBPT is preparing to host the NPTE Workshop for Educators Saturday and Sunday, October 5-6, 2019, in Los Angeles, California, at the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport. Like the workshops held at the FSBPT offices, attendees should expect to receive valuable insights on how the NPTE is developed and how to prepare students for the NPTE as well as hands-on assistance in writing test items similar to those on the NPTE.
Please check the NPTE Workshop for Educators webpage for more information and registration resources as we continue to update and solidify details.
The Purposes of the ELDD
In the early 2000s when FSBPT first planned its Examination, Licensure, and Disciplinary Database (ELDD), the federal government was implementing the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) and the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB). (Effective May 6, 2013, the NPDB and the HIPDB merged into one Data Bank: the NPDB).
Federal law required that adverse actions taken against a health care professional's license be reported to these data banks by state regulatory boards. The federal government released a list of Basis for Action codes for reporting purposes; unfortunately there were no specific definitions to accompany the codes and NPDB has never developed any.;
Once all jurisdictions were required to report to the NPDB‐HIPDB, FSBPT decided to use the same Basis for Action Categories for the ELDD as the NPDB‐HIPDB. This was to avoid duplication and keep things as simple as possible for the FSBPT members filling out NPDB‐HIPDB reports.
The purpose of the ELDD is manifold. Most importantly, it serves as an alert mechanism for physical therapy licensing boards. If a licensee holds multiple licenses and gets disciplined in one jurisdiction, the FSBPT ELDD will alert the other jurisdictions in which the individual is licensed. This “push” notification system prevents sanctioned individuals from moving across state lines to avoid the effects of disciplinary action. This alert system is critical for public protection.
However, beyond this the database can also be a rich source of data from which evidence-based regulation can be developed. That said, the quality of the research is only as good as the data. Without specific definitions for the categories, it is impossible to determine when to use one category versus another. As a result, every jurisdiction was categorizing the data differently. Without consistency, the data has limited, if any, use.
To help solve this problem, the FSBPT Board of Directors appointed the Disciplinary Categories Task Force to develop definitions and guidelines for how and when to use the categories. The task force was represented by four different jurisdictions as well as a board attorney. Over the course of several months, they defined and refined the categories. They used sample cases to test their definitions. FSBPT developed the Basis for Disciplinary Action Definitions and Descriptions, a tool that defines and categorizes the basis for disciplinary action. It includes definitions and guidelines to help state licensing authorities understand how to report disciplinary actions and select the most appropriate code.
FSBPT encourages anyone reporting physical therapy disciplinary actions to use these definitions. This will establish a level of consistency that will allow the data to be used to determine trends, focus on prevention, and evaluate the effectiveness of remedial actions.
Back to Top
Spotlight on Member Resources: Acronyms A-Z
FSBPT members and staff use a variety of acronyms. We have compiled
a list of these acronyms along with what they stand for, their descriptions, and links to websites when appropriate.
Our Gratitude for Volunteers
This month, we thank the generous volunteer members of these groups for their support of our mission:
Exam Development Committee-PTA
JAM Item Writers
Regional Item Writers
In the News
"Report recommends sweeping changes to B.C.'s dental surgeon regulations after ‘ongoing dysfunction,'" The Globe and Mail, April 11, 2019
"The oversight body for British Columbia’s dental surgeons has sometimes put the interests of dentists ahead of those of the public, an expert on professional regulation has said, citing in his report the handling of a case that left a young woman with brain damage.
"Health Minister Adrian Dix asked Harry Cayton last year to review the administrative and operational practices of the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia, and the province’s health professions act. His report recommended sweeping changes to how dentists and other health professionals are regulated. He raised concerns about record-keeping and internal communications.
…
"B.C. has 26 regulated health professions, of which 25 - including doctors, dentists and nurses - are governed by colleges under the Health Professions Act. One profession, emergency medical assisting, is regulated by a government-appointed licensing board under a separate statute."
"With Labor Market Tight, Some States Loosen Rules for Licensed Jobs," The Wall Street Journal, June 9, 2019
"...Some states, grappling with a tight labor market, have passed laws that enable licensed workers to cross their borders to find work. Analysts say this type of policy, if it spreads, could boost the size of the national workforce and potential U.S. economic growth."
"Burnout is officially a medical condition, according to the World Health Organization," USA Today, May 28, 2019
"The work-related stress, which has been unofficially embedded in the cultural zeitgeist for years, has been officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) through a revision of the International Classification of Diseases — a handbook for doctors and health insurers."
"Statehouse Roundup: Licensure Compact Progress; Chapters Press for Changes to Direct Access, Pain Management Policy, Payment, and More," PT InMotion, April 2, 2019
"Connecticut and North Dakota are making changes to the composition of their physical therapy boards, with Connecticut possibly eliminating rules that require a physician to be a member of the board and North Dakota reducing physician board members from 2 to 1—and adding a PTA member. The North Dakota bill is now on the governor's desk."
"The Indiana Physical Therapy Practice Act Will Change On July 1, 2019," Indiana Chapter – American Physical Therapy Association
"The key updates are the following:
- Creation of a 5-person Physical Therapy Board to regulate the practice of physical therapy in Indiana.
- Expansion of direct access from 24 days to 42 days.
- Recognition of dry needling as being within the physical therapy scope of practice.
- Provides improved 'title protection' for licensed physical therapists and for the term physical therapy.
- Removes the ability of a physician to supervise a physical therapist assistant.
- Adds a definition of 'physical therapy aide' which is a person who performs designated and routine tasks related to physical therapy services.
- Limits the times that the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) can be taken to 6."
"Too Much Focus on Productivity Increases Risk of Unethical Behavior, Say Researchers," PT InMotion, March 22, 2019
"Employers that overemphasize productivity goals over evidence-based practice (EBP) may inadvertently set the stage for unethical behaviors by physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs), say authors of an unedited new study published ahead of print in Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation. Organizational culture, say authors, is 'the most easily changeable' factor in promoting ethical behavior."
"National Survey Indicates Majority of Physician Misconduct Goes Unreported," Federation of State Medical Boards, May 30, 2019
"Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69%) do not know that a state medical board is the best resource to contact first if you have a complaint about a physician’s competence or conduct."
"Study: Burnout Comes at a (Literal) Cost to Organizations," PT InMotion, June 4, 2019
A recent study found that physician burnout costs about $4.6 billion annually.
"Therapy Clinic Operator Convicted of Health Care Fraud for Role in Occupational Therapy Fraud Scheme," US Department of Justice, May 29, 2019
"A federal jury found a Brea, California, woman guilty yesterday of fraud charges for her role in a $6 million Medicare fraud scheme involving billing for occupational therapy services that were not medically necessary and not actually provided."
Back to Top
Board Liaisons to Jurisdictions
Members of the Board of Directors serve as liaisons to multiple jurisdictions. Current liaison relationships are listed here for your reference.
 Tom Caldwell
Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas |  Ruggie Canizares
Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah |  Ellen Donald
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina |  Joni Kalis
Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming |
 Nancy Kirsch
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont |  Adrienne Price
Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia |  David Relling
Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands |  John Young
The public member of the board does not serve as a liaison to jurisdictions. |
Back to Top
Staff Contact Information
Staff Contact Information
If you have questions, challenges or ideas, we want to hear from you!
(703) 299-3100
| Subject | Point of Contact/Email Address |
| ADA accommodations | Christine Sousa |
| aPTitude® | competencestaff@fsbpt.org |
| Assessment or examination development questions | Lorin Mueller, PhD
Susan Layton
npte@fsbpt.org |
| Continuing competence | Jeffrey M. Rosa
Heidi Herbst Paakkonen
competencestaff@fsbpt.org |
| Credentials review | Jaime Nolan, FCCPT |
| ELDD- Exam, Licensure and Disciplinary Database participation | eldd@fsbpt.org |
| Exam registration processing | Christine Sousa |
| Foreign educated issues | Leslie Adrian |
| Immigration | Jamie Nolan |
| JAM- Jurisprudence Assessment Module | competencestaff@fsbpt.org |
| Legislation or Model Practice Act | Leslie Adrian |
| Meeting arrangements | Paul Delaney |
| NPDB reports/questions | Angela Burnham |
| oPTion® | competencestaff@fsbpt.org |
| PTC- Physical Therapy Compact | compact@fsbpt.org |
| PEAT®- Practice Exam & Assessment Tool | peat@fsbpt.org |
| ProCert® | competencestaff@fsbpt.org |
| Reimbursement of expenses
Other financial matters | Bill Aronson
Linda Michelsen |
| School reports | schoolreports@fsbpt.org |
| Score transfer & reporting | Christine Sousa |
| SCP PET- Supervised Clinical Practice Performance Evaluation Tool | scppet@fsbpt.org |
| Security issues | Susan Layton
security@fsbpt.org |
| Anything else, including news to share with members | William A. Hatherill
Francois Marjorie
Caitlin Jennings |
| 
| | Sign off:
That’s all the news today from the ‘Original Orange’ Daylily covered banks of the Potomac, where the fish are faster, the fishing boats are longer, and the fishermen are still full of stories. - William A. Hatherill, CEO |