In this News Brief:
Leadership Issues Forum Wrap-up
The FSBPT Board held the 2024 Leadership Issues Forum in Arlington, Virginia, July 13-14. This is an annual meeting in which the Board invites Voting Delegates and Selected Administrators from all jurisdictions, as well as other stakeholders, including committee chairs and representatives from APTA, AAPT, FCCPT, CAPTE, PT Compact, and ACAPT. The weekend forum provides our leaders with an overview of the topics and projects that are currently on the “front burner” for FSBPT and regulatory entities.
A total of 132 attendees discussed digital health and AI; sexual misconduct and boundary violations; workforce data; and many other critical and emerging issues. The presentation slides are available to members in the member portal. Look out for the 2024 Leadership Issues Forum Report in the next issue of the News Brief.
Reporting Exam Security Concerns Anonymously
FSBPT is committed to ensuring the NPTE is fair and secure for all. To that end, FSBPT has partnered with STOPit to stop potential candidates from cheating on their NPTE.
By implementing STOPit’s Anonymous Reporting System, anyone can report issues directly and anonymously about suspected cases of candidates cheating on the NPTE. With STOPit Messenger, candidates are able to speak with someone from FSBPT about their concerns in real-time as their identity remains anonymous.
Don’t be afraid to speak up—reporting is 100% anonymous and can be done from a desktop using this link or the STOPit app with your Apple or Android devices. (Within the App, use the access code “NPTESecurity” or search for the organization, “National Physical Therapy Examination.”)
PT Compact Update
The Physical Therapy Compact Commission (PTCC) newsletter provides updates on the PT Compact, which allows physical therapists to practice in multiple states. You can read the latest updates and also sign up to ensure you don't miss future updates.
The Slate for the 2024 Elections
The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the slate for this year’s elections, to take place virtually during the Annual Education Meeting, October 31–November 2. Please read the Candidate Statements to get to know the candidates.
The Nominating Committee held a Candidate Forum on Tuesday, July 2, in conjunction with the 2024 Leadership Issues Forum, to introduce 2024 candidates for the Board of Directors and the Nominating Committee. A recording of this forum is available in the FSBPT portal for members. This will be followed by a Candidate Forum in the fall.
Please join FSBPT in thanking the 2024 Nominating Committee Members, Ron Barredo (Chair), Robert Friberg, and Adrienne (Stacy) Price for their work this year.
 |  |
Stephen Curley (KY)
Secretary | Deanne Grier Yates (KS)
Secretary |
 |  |
Steven Scherger (MN)
Treasurer | Krista M. Wolfe (PA)
Treasurer |
 |  |
David Harris (TN)
Director #1 | Craig Thomas Miller (MI)
Director #1 |
 |  |
Bernardine Spaulding Evans (DC)
Nominating Committee Member | Kristina Lounsberry (LA)
Nominating Committee Member |
Model Practice Act Moment
Each month, we will focus on a different statute section from the Model Practice Act and its accompanying commentary.
Statute
21. “Telehealth” is the use of electronic communications to provide and deliver a host of health-related information and healthcare services, including, but not limited to physical therapy related information and services, over large and small distances. Telehealth encompasses a variety of healthcare and health promotion activities, including, but not limited to, education, advice, reminders, interventions, and monitoring of interventions.
Commentary
As telehealth has emerged as a critical mode of delivery of physical therapy, it bears stating that the PT/PTA and patient/client relationship can be fully established in the absence of actual physical contact between the PT/PTA and the patient/client. Telehealth is not a new treatment, or an expansion of scope of practice, but a means to deliver physical therapy care to those in need. The physical therapist is still responsible for the care of the patient and for making determinations of the best means to deliver that care. The standards of care and practice, laws, and regulations currently required to be followed for any in-person encounter must also be followed for any encounter via telehealth. The way in which components of intervention are rendered and the supervision levels required may be further clarified in rule. Many jurisdictions have provisions for offsite supervision of physical therapist assistants. The way in which components of intervention are rendered by physical therapist assistants under offsite supervision, or interventions rendered directly to a patient by a physical therapist through some means of electronic communications, shall be areas of statute or rules needing further clarification.
2024 Excellence in Regulation Award Recipients
Please join us in congratulating Georgia and Indiana, our 2024 recipients of the Excellence in Regulation Award!
Help Us Update the Jurisdiction Licensure Reference Guide
The Jurisdiction Licensure Reference Guide is a resource that compares some of the major similarities and differences among jurisdictions. Developed by FSBPT, the guide is used as a reference for educational programs, students, licensing boards, professional associations, and others.
Given the frequent changes in jurisdictions' statutes and regulations, maintaining accurate information across all the resources and charts is challenging. FSBPT encourages jurisdictions to review and engage with their data and provide updates by contacting communications@fsbpt.org. Please include the change and the citation to the appropriate statute, regulation, or policy.
Available Funding Opportunities
The FSBPT Board is committed to supporting its member jurisdictions in their mission to protect the public. Join the ranks of states, including Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Virgin Islands, and Texas, that have all taken a big step toward both administrative efficiency and protecting the public. They are currently leveraging FSBPT Grants to enhance the ELDD, improve compact privilege implementation, and collect workforce data.
Your state should be next! Learn more about our available grants to help jurisdictions with enhancing your participation in or communication with our Examination, Licensure, and Disciplinary Database (ELDD), improving compact privilege implementation, or collecting workforce data.
FSBPT offers grant funding to support its member jurisdictions in their mission to protect the public. If you are interested in receiving a grant, please send an email to FSBPT's CEO, William A. Hatherill summarizing what you would like to have funded and why it is important or how it can improve efficiencies for your board.
Upcoming Webinars
We are hosting multiple upcoming webinars within the FSBPT Portal, allowing you to easily access member resources, groups, and events all in one place! Be sure to register for these upcoming webinars:
Navigating Multi-State Investigations: Best Practices and Strategies
- Wednesday, August 7, 2024, 4:00 p.m. ET
August 2024 Regulatory Hour Don't Say A Word: Speech vs. Conduct
- Wednesday, August 21, 4:00 p.m. ET
To register, please log in to the FSBPT Portal, select "Events," and click on the event you'd like to register for.
Send Us Additional Recipients
Do you know of any individuals or groups that would be interested in receiving our monthly News Brief? Or, did someone forward this to you and you'd like to be on our list?
Please send any referrals our way! Contact us via email at communications@fsbpt.org with information, ideas, or suggestions.
We appreciate your collaboration in our effort to further our mission to protect the public.
FSBPT Forum: Safe Haven Programs—Alternatives to Discipline in Times of Burnout, Mental Health, and Substance Use
FSBPT Member Boards have been championing a new way of addressing mental health and substance use issues among industry professionals—safe haven programs. This article is based on a 2023 Annual Education Meeting presentation by Missy Anthony, Timothy Keck, and Katie Stuart.
Understanding the concepts of “reasonable and prudent” and “standard of care” is essential for regulators. These concepts define the expected level of care and conduct in healthcare practice, guiding professionals in delivering quality care while also serving as benchmarks for assessing compliance and addressing instances of negligence or misconduct. The FSBPT Ethics & Legislation Committee has produced this resource to help guide stakeholders. However, for comprehensive legal advice or guidance tailored to specific jurisdictions, it is advisable for board members to consult with a qualified board attorney familiar with physical therapy statutes and regulations as well as broader applicable healthcare regulations and standards.
Many Thanks to Our Volunteers
This month, we thank our generous volunteer members for their support of our mission.
In the News
FSBPT provides the following links for your education and awareness but does not endorse the content.
“National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action Results in 193 Defendants Charged and Over $2.75 Billion in False Claims,” US Department of Justice, June 27, 2024
"The Justice Department today announced the 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action, which resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants, including 76 doctors, nurse practitioners, and other licensed medical professionals in 32 federal districts across the United States, for their alleged participation in various health care fraud schemes involving approximately $2.75 billion in intended losses and $1.6 billion in actual losses." Two physical therapists and one owner of a physical therapy company were included in the 193 defendants.
“Navigating the Responsible and Ethical Incorporation of Artificial Intelligence into Clinical Practice,” Federation of State Medical Boards, April 2024
"Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds tremendous potential to aid healthcare providers in diagnosis, treatment selection, clinical documentation, and other tasks to improve quality, access, and efficiency. However, these technologies introduce risks if deployed without proper “guardrails” and understanding which may impact considerations in clinical practice as well as regulatory processes of state medical boards. By taking a proactive and standardized governance approach anchored in ethical principles, state medical boards can promote safe and effective integration of AI, in its various forms, while prioritizing patient wellbeing."
"A Call for Artificial Intelligence Implementation Science Centers to Evaluate Clinical Effectiveness," Longhurst et al., The New England Journal of Medicine, July 10, 2024
"Artificial intelligence (AI) holds significant promise for revolutionizing health care by enhancing diagnosis, treatment, and patients’ safety. However, the current disparity between the abundance of AI research and the scarcity of evidence on real-world impact underscores the urgent need for comprehensive clinical effectiveness evaluations. These evaluations must go beyond model validation to explore the real-world effectiveness of AI models in clinical settings, especially because so few have gone on to show any meaningful impact. The importance of local context in AI model validation and impact assessment cannot be overstated. We call for increased recognition of implementation science principles and their adoption through development of a network of health care delivery organizations to focus on the clinical effectiveness of AI models in real-world settings to help achieve the shared goal of safer, more effective, and equitable care for all patients."
The Regulation of Clinical Artificial Intelligence," Blumenthal et al., The New England Journal of Medicine, July 12, 2024
"The regulation of clinical artificial intelligence (AI) poses novel challenges for policy makers worldwide. Existing approaches to assuring the safety and efficacy of AI technologies may suffice for older forms of AI that preceded the development of generative artificial intelligence (GAI). However, the regulation of clinical GAI may require the development of new regulatory paradigms. This article reviews approaches in the United States to regulating pregenerative clinical AI and examines a novel possible approach to GAI regulation. The sooner policy makers in the United States and elsewhere tackle the challenges of regulating clinical AI, the sooner its benefits will be made available to people and patients with acceptable assurances of safety and efficacy."
FSBPT Board of Directors
Members of the board of directors serve as liaisons to multiple jurisdictions.
 Ruggie Canizares
Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah |  Ellen Donald
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee |  Cynthia Potter
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont |  David Relling
Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Virgin Islands |
 Steven Scherger
Arkansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia |  Michelle Sigmund-Gaines
Alaska, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming |  Michele Thorman
Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, Wisconsin |  Charles E. Reiter
The public member of the board does not serve as a liaison to jurisdictions |
FSBPT’s Board of Directors wants members to know staff is available to assist any jurisdiction with writing statutory or regulatory language. When you are crafting new laws or regulations/rules, especially involving FSBPT products such as the NPTE or Coursework Tool, or controversial topics such as dry needling, FSBPT is a resource to remember!
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 Muelle
Susan Newman
npte@fsbpt.org |
| Continuing competence | Jeffrey M. Rosa |
| 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 | JAM@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 |
| 
| | From the starburst lily-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
|