President’s Message (December 2018)
INAPTA Members,
As we approach the end of 2018, I want to thank each of you for your support of INAPTA. Your dedication to the profession, whether by being a member of INAPTA or taking a role in the leadership of our association, has helped us move the profession forward in 2018. Much has been accomplished this year, and we look forward to 2019 and all that we plan to undertake to improve the lives of our patients and your ability to practice within the scope of your education.
Over the past 12-18 months, the INAPTA State Legislative Committee has worked diligently to revise the Indiana Physical Therapy Practice Act. This will be brought before the Indiana Legislature in early 2019. Many of you had the opportunity to attend District Meetings around the state to hear about the revisions, and I thank you for taking the time to do this. Some notable updates that will be addressed in the revised Practice Act will be:
- The protection of the term physical therapy.
- The introduction of a Physical Therapy Board (currently we have a Physical Therapy Committee who reports to the IN Medical Board).
- Expansion of the duration of direct access.
- The Introduction of telemedicine.
We are currently in discussions with the Indiana State Medical Association, the Indiana State Chiropractic Association, American Massage Therapy Assn, IN Chapter, and the Indiana Occupational Therapy Association to finalize the language that will be submitted in time for the start of the 2019 Legislative session.
After the holidays, we will be communicating with you all about grassroots activities as we work toward obtaining legislator support for the hearing of the proposed legislation. I want to recognize the work of Pauline Flesch, PT, MPS who is the State Legislative Chair and the Committee Members, Peter Altenburger, PT, PhD, Paul Lonnemann, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC, FAAOMPT, and Deanna Hayes, PT, DPT, MS. In addition I would like to thank Steve Beebe, INAPTA Lobbyist and Mark Scherer, INAPTA Attorney, for all the work that they have done on our behalf.
Don’t forget! The 2019 PT Day at the Statehouse will be on February 5, 2019 and in early January, we will be asking you to register. Currently, we have commitments from four PT programs and three PTA programs from around the state who plan to attend the event with their students. I encourage you to attend as well and support our profession. Registration is key so we can identify which legislative districts are represented, and of course, have you included in the lunch count!
Legislative change does come with a price, and that starts with supporting those legislators who support our profession. As mentioned previously, INAPTA is committed to increasing our PAC funds. In 2019, you will have the chance to contribute the $10 that you are now saving on your membership back to the INAPTA PAC. Per state law, not one penny of your membership dues can be contributed to the PAC, this needs to be a voluntary contribution. Indiana is the ONLY state who has been able to reduce membership dues, encouraging members give back to the INAPTA PAC. You are not bound to only give $10, you can give more to help move our profession move forward in the state of Indiana.
This year, our INAPTA Service Committee led by Hannah Enochs, PT, DPT, OCS and Sarah Keenan, PT, DPT, helped coordinate multiple service activities across the state on and around October 13th. Click HERE for a slide show of physical therapy volunteerism from these events.
Looking ahead to 2019, we have a lot planned. We hope that you join us on February 5th for PT Day at the Statehouse. On April 27th we will be holding our Spring Meeting at Bradford Woods where our APTA Board of Directors liaison, Kip Schick, PT, DPT, will be speaking about moving the profession forward.
As we are heading into the final few weeks of 2018, I again want to thank you for your support of INAPTA and wish you a safe and peaceful holiday season.
Best wishes
Emily Slaven, PT, PhD
President, INAPTA
2018 PT Day of Service