FSBPT Board Pledges a $2.2 Million Grant for PT Compact Members to Improve the ELDD and Public Protection
A robust Examination, Licensure, and Disciplinary Database (ELDD) is key to public protection because it helps jurisdictions identify practitioners who may try to switch jurisdictions without disclosing disciplinary actions. By leveraging the FSBPT ID, a unique identifier for each licensee, data sharing between jurisdictions and the ELDD is more efficient and secure. You can learn more about the ELDD and the FSBPT ID by watching this brief video.
Thanks in part to savings experienced by holding virtual meetings and the recent overall investment performance, FSBPT’s board has set aside a $2.2 million grant for PT Compact member jurisdictions, along with our ongoing jurisdictional grant program, to further aid these efforts. Starting in 2022, PT Compact member jurisdictions can apply for grants to fund consulting, programming, data entry, technological upgrades, and other activities that enhance updates to the ELDD.
Please let us know if your jurisdiction is interested by contacting our CEO, William A. Hatherill. We will share additional information soon.
2022 Regulatory Training for Members and Board Staff
Please join us for the Regulatory Training for Members and Board Staff, held May 20-22, 2022, in Alexandria, Virginia. All board members and board staff (administrators, licensing specialists, and attorneys) are eligible to participate. This training provides an in-depth understanding of your role as a regulatory board member or staff person in protecting the consumers of physical therapy services. We also provide an overview of FSBPT services.
Costs are covered by FSBPT. To express your interest in attending, please complete this brief form. Requests must be received before February 20, 2022, for consideration. As attendance is limited, we prioritize giving slots to first-time attendees (attendees who have not participated in an in-person training before). We also consider the geographical balance of attendees as we want to ensure every jurisdiction has the opportunity to benefit from this training. We will accommodate additional attendees as space permits. Please read our Regulatory Training FAQs to learn more.
Express Your Interest in Running for Office in 2022
At the 2022 Delegate Assembly, elections will be held for the following positions on the Board of Directors and the Nominating Committee.
PRESIDENT (three-year term):
Must be a current or past member of a Member Board or current or past administrator of a Member Board.
VICE PRESIDENT (three-year term):
Must be a current or past member of a Member Board or current or past administrator of a Member Board.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE MEMBER (three-year term):
Must be a member of a Member Board, an administrator of a Member Board, an Associate Member*, or an individual with expertise to facilitate the task of the committee.
Are you interested in running for a position? View the job descriptions and email communications@fsbpt.org before December 31, 2021. (Please include the position(s) for which you are interested.) You’ll hear about next steps in early 2022.
*An Associate Member is a former member or administrator of a Member Board, a former member of the Board of Directors, a former committee or task force member, or a member of the Academy of Advanced Item Writers.
Regulatory Workshop: For the Love of Regulation
FSBPT members, please join us for FSBPT's "Regulatory Workshop: For the Love of Regulation," a virtual event held February 11-13, 2022.
Are you a new board member? Have you been on your board for the past ten years? Either way, the Board Member & Administrator Regulatory Workshop is for you!
Learn more about FSBPT's Member Services, from the Model Practice Act to the NPTE to the Members' Area.
- Connect with fellow members via breakout discussions, our social wall, and other interactive activities.
- Discuss important topics and trends in regulation and learn how other jurisdictions are handling current challenges.
- Learn regulatory tips and lessons learned from Dale Atkinson.
- Learn about the PT Compact, credentialing of foreign-educated physical therapists, the Exam Licensure and Disciplinary Database (ELDD), and more!
All board members and board staff (administrators, licensing specialists, and attorneys) are eligible to participate at no cost. We have more than 40 members already planning to attend, but there's room for more! Register now and spread the word to your board members and fellow administrators.
Schedule
Friday, February 11
11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ET (2:00-3:00 p.m. break)
Saturday, February 12
11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ET (2:00-3:00 p.m. break)
Sunday, February 13
11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. ET
Does Your Jurisdiction Clearly Define “Patient” in Rules or Statutes?
FSBPT formed the Boundary Violation Task Force in 2020. One of the task force’s goals is to identify potential barriers for reporting violations to regulatory boards. To help accomplish this, task force members reviewed jurisdictions’ websites. The task force members only reviewed websites they were unfamiliar with. When reviewing the websites, the task force members were asked to determine whether the provider-patient relationship is defined in rules or statutes (e.g., is ‘patient’ defined?).
Is "Patient" Defined in Rules or Statute?
The task force found that only nine jurisdictions had clear language defining the provider-patient/client relationship in rules or statutes. The power differential between the clinician and patient/client exists because the clinician has knowledge and skills needed by the patient, access to the patient’s personal medical information, and the patient’s reliance on them for establishing boundaries in care. This innate dependence makes dating current patients inappropriate, even when the relationship may appear to be mutually consensual.
“Patient” and/or “client” may be defined in different ways. Here are some examples:
- Patient: the recipient of physical therapy services pursuant to a plan of care, treatment plan, or program; "patient" includes any person who has not been discharged from that therapist's care.
- Client: recipient of services, advice, education, and/or recommendations for activities related to wellness and preventive services including conditioning, injury prevention, reduction of stress, or promotion of fitness.
You can read more specific examples from multiple jurisdictions here.
Takeaway tip: Consider reviewing your jurisdiction’s practice act language and consider promoting future changes as necessary to clearly define who is a patient/client and when the patient relationship begins. The task force also encourages jurisdictions to consider changes to clearly define when the provider-patient relationship ends (if ever).
Practice Analysis Report and Task Force
As the developer of the NPTE, FSBPT has a responsibility to ensure the validity of the results. To accomplish this, FSBPT undertakes a formal, systematic process referred to as an "analysis of practice." This process begins with the identification of work requirements for entry-level practitioners and ends with the development of a formal set of test specifications that delineates the knowledge and skills related to safe and effective entry-level practice. FSBPT collects the data on an annual basis and formally reviews these data and updates the content outlines for the PT and PTA examinations every five years.
The "Analysis of Practice for the Physical Therapy Profession: Report Memo 2021" is now available. FSBPT will soon formally review and revise the NPTE Content Outlines for both the PT and PTA examinations with the help of the Technical Advisory Panel and Practice Analysis Task Forces.
The Practice Analysis Task Forces consist of a diverse group of PT professionals charged with reviewing the data from the practice analysis data collections from 2016-2022 in order to identify critical work activities and knowledge and skill requirements related to safe and effective entry-level practice. These groups will then use the data to revise the content to be included on the NPTE at each exam level, as well as the number of questions that should be allocated to each content area in accordance with their relative importance and the breadth of material to be assessed. The result will be new Content Outlines.
In 2023, FSBPT will conduct a performance standard review to potentially revise the passing standard for the NPTE as defined by minimally safe and competent physical therapy practice. Ultimately, examinations will be reflective of the new Content Outlines and performance standards beginning in 2024.
We are looking for volunteers for the Practice Analysis Task Forces who will participate in meetings in 2022 and 2023. If you are interested, please contact us at volunteer@fsbpt.org. We also encourage you to learn more about the practice analysis process.
Two Bills Aim to Increase Diversity in Rehabilitation Service Providers
Representatives introduced two related bills on May 18, 2021, in the 2021-2022 Regular Session (117th) United States Congress that would provide financial supports to increase diversity in rehabilitation service providers. The Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act of 2021 HR 3320 and S 1679 provide grants to accredited physical therapy education programs to increase diversity in the physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, and speech-language pathology professions. The grants may be used to provide scholarships or to support recruitment and retention of students from underrepresented groups.
Both bills were sponsored by Democrats—Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)—but have bipartisan support. The House has taken swift action by referring the bill two days after introduction to the Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. In early November, the bill was sent to the full committee where the votes were received to advance the bill. On December 8, the bill was reported and amended by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. However, S 1679 was referred to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee immediately after introduction and awaits further action.
Share Your Webinar and Annual Meeting Ideas!
We are accepting presentation ideas and proposals for 2022 webinars and in-person sessions at the 2022 Annual Meeting in Orange County, California.
If you have a specific idea, please submit a proposal. However, we are also interested in learning about jurisdictions' experiences with regulatory topics and your general ideas on what issues we should examine. We encourage all board members, board administrators, and other stakeholders to please share topics and ideas with us. You can watch recent webinars and register for upcoming sessions on the FSBPT events platform.
FSBPT Forum: President's Perspective
In this year's President's Perspective, President Nancy Kirsch emphasizes the importance of evidence-based regulation and the Healthcare Regulatory Research Institute. Read the article.
Spotlight on Member Resources: Pass Rate Reports
FSBPT posts pass rate information for the NPTE. The posted pass rates show the overall performance of NPTE candidates in four broad categories.
Webinar Clip: What is the Purpose of Physical Therapy Boards
In the clip below, Dale Atkinson discusses the purpose of physical therapy boards during the Regulatory Hour held in February. You can also watch full webinar recordings and register for upcoming webinars.
Our Gratitude for Volunteers
This month, we thank the generous volunteer members of these groups for their support of our mission:
In the News
"Update: Feds allege Erie-based Hertel & Brown physical therapy committed $22M billing fraud," Ed Palattella, Erie Times-News, November 11, 2021
This case is a good example of licensees being held individually responsible for their actions.
"The 30-page indictment, returned in U.S. District Court in Erie, names a total of 21 defendants: Hertel & Brown as a business, Hertel and Brown individually and 18 employees. They are all accused of two felony counts: health care fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud from January 2007 to this October."
"Telehealth Became a Lifeline for Older Americans. But It Still Has Glitches," Paula Span, The New York Times, December 11, 2021
"Medicare has extended coverage of remote health care. While telehealth removed barriers to care for many during the pandemic, some say there is more to be done."
Board Report
Motion – Approved
To approve the 2022 organizational goals
Rationale: The Board of Directors annually adopts organizational goals.
Fiscal Impact: None
Motion – Approved
To adopt the 2022 net income of $3,419,992
Rationale: The Board of Directors annually adopts an operating budget.
Fiscal Impact: As indicated in the motion
Motion – Approved
To adopt the 2022 capital budget in the amount of $1,159,550
Rationale: The Board of Directors annually adopts a capital budget.
Fiscal Impact: As indicated in the motion
Motion – Approved
To adopt the 2022 reserve funding in the amount of $37,000,000
Rationale: The Board of Directors annually adopts reserve fund amounts.
Fiscal Impact: As indicated in the motion
Motion – Approved
To adopt the 2022 Policies Manual
Rationale: As a matter of procedure, the policy manuals are reviewed and approved each year.
Fiscal Impact: None
Motion – Approved
To adopt the 2022 Personnel Policy Manual.
Rationale: As a matter of procedure, the policy manuals are reviewed and approved each year.
Fiscal Impact: None
Motion – Approved
To adopt the 2022 NPTE Policies.
Rationale: The 2022 NPTE Policies will become effective 60 days after they have been sent to the member jurisdictions for review.
Fiscal Impact: None.
Motion – Approved
To appoint the following person to the Item Writing Task Force PTA:
Lisa Joranlien, (FL): January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2024
Motion – Approved
To appoint Charles Reiter as the Public member through December 31, 2022
Motion – Approved
To appoint the following persons to the following Committees:
Continuing Competence
- Jessica Alwell – LA (3-year term)
- Bill Boissonnault – SC (3-year term)
- Jackie Waring – UT (3-year term)
Ethics & Legislation Committee
- Sara Conrad – MN (3-year term)
- Craig Miller – MI (3-year term)
Finance Committee
- Megan Certo – IN (3-year term)
- Timothy McIntire – OH (1-year term)
- Krista Wolfe – PA (3-year term)
Sexual Misconduct & Boundaries Committee
- Robert Frampton – MI (2-year term)
- Kristina Lounsberry – LA (1-year term)
- Sherri Paru – OR (2-year term)
- Tom Pennington – KY (1-year term)
- Carolyn Taylor – VA (3-year term)
- Michele Thorman – WI (3-year term)
Resolutions Committee
- Kelly King – AZ (3-year term)
Education Committee
- Erin DeTomaso – MN (3-year term)
- Deanna Dye – ID (3-year term)
- Venus Vendoures Walsh – IA (3-year term)
Motion – Approved
To appoint the following persons to the following Taskforces:
Re-Entry Demographics Taskforce
- Katherine Joines – NV
- Jennifer Ball – OK
- Karen McIntyre – OH
- Steven Scherger – MN
Board of Directors
Members of the Board of Directors serve as liaisons to multiple jurisdictions. Current liaison relationships are listed here for your reference.
 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 |
 Cynthia Potter
Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia |  Adrienne Price
Arkansas, District of Columbia, Kentucky, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia |  David Relling
Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands |  Charles E. Reiter
The public member of the board does not serve as a liaison to jurisdictions |
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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 |
| Assessment or examination development questions | Lorin Mueller
Susan Newman
npte@fsbpt.org |
| Continuing competence | Jeffrey M. Rosa
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 |
| PTC- Physical Therapy Compact | compact@fsbpt.org |
| PEAT®- Practice Exam & Assessment Tool | peat@fsbpt.org |
| Reimbursement of expenses
Other financial matters | 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 Newman
security@fsbpt.org |
| Anything else, including news to share with members | William A. Hatherill
Caitlin Jennings
Communications@fsbpt.org |
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| | From the budding red-berried Nellie Stevens holly tree-covered banks of the Potomac River, where the fish are faster, the fishing boats are longer, and the fishermen are still full of stories. - William A. Hatherill, CEO
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