The West Virginia Physical Therapy Association is currently making attempts to increase PTA membership and involvement in the Association and its activities. Part of this effort includes the attempt to form a PTA Special Interest Group (SIG) for PTAs to discuss their common interests/concerns and provide more specific education and programming opportunities for PTAs. There was recently a petition to form the PTA SIG which was sent out to current PTA members, as well as to some non-members. If you received this petition and would like to become involved, please contact Bryanna Oridway, PTA at b_ordiway@yahoo.com . We would love to hear from you and to help you get involved!

Students, as I’m sure you’ve heard (but just in case you haven’t), the West Virginia Physical Therapy Association is making an attempt to increase student involvement and opportunities within the Association.

Why should this matter to you???

This is a great way to network with PTs, PTAs, and other students across the state, which may ultimately open you up to career opportunities and will definitely provide you with experiences that will enhance both your student and professional careers. And that’s not all…..participating in the WVPTA and becoming involved in its activities is a great way to be an active participant in protecting both your future career and the care you will be providing your patients’.

Has scheduled several webinar trainings for partners and Stakeholders on the Marketplace.   Attached is the Marketplace Webinar schedule through the end of July. We hope you will be able to take advantage of these offerings. Please note that you will need to register for the webinar when you access the link.

Also - Please circulate and share with others who may be interested. Thank you again for your interest.

Debbie Feierman MSW, LCSW
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Philadelphia Regional Office
P 215.861.4297
F 443-380-5763
Debbie.feierman@cms.hhs.gov

Level 1: Health Insurance Marketplace 101
A one-hour high-level webinar overview of the accomplishments of the Affordable Care Act and a basic introduction to the Marketplace (Exchanges) highlighting who is eligible and how the Marketplace will work.

Level 2: Understanding the Health Insurance Marketplace
A two-hour detailed review of the Marketplace (Exchanges), including eligibility, enrollment, plan structure, Medicaid expansion, and the streamlined expansion.

The first line of the American Physical Therapy Association’s 2020 Vision Statement says that “Physical therapy, by 2020, will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy and who may be board-certified specialists.” Through the process set forth by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, we are moving forward toward this goal. Beginning in 1978 with one recognized specialty-cardiopulmonary physical therapy, now there are eight recognized specialty areas:

Cardiopulmonary, Orthopaedic, Clinical Electrophysiology, Pediatric, Geriatric, Sports, Neurologic, and Women’s Health.                                                               

Clinical Specialization combines a broad based foundation of physical therapy education and clinical practice with the depth and breadth of knowledge in specialty area. It requires advanced clinical expertise, skills, and abilities unique to a specialized practice area.