Published: 10/23/2019
Third year DPT students and Drs. Jon Ulrich, Jill Caster and Matt Caster
Forty-six of Gannon’s third year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students, along with 3 faculty members, Drs. Jon Ulrich, Jill Caster and Matt Caster, chartered a bus to attend the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association (PPTA) Legislative Day in Harrisburg, PA. This trip served to expose students to the legislative process and to further understand what our role, as physical therapists, is in the process.
One bill that was discussed in the House and Senate was the Compact Privilege bill. This bill petitions for Pennsylvania to join an already established contract to allow physical therapists to practice in multiple states based off one licensure process. This approval would allow access to 26 already approved states. Patients would be provided with increased access to care and physical therapists would be provided increased licensure portability.
Another topic currently in the legislative process that the students were able to learn about was the Credentialing Act. Currently, health insurers can take up to 180 days to approve credentialing for physical therapists. This prevents PA consumers from non-pharmacologic management choices for pain and adds unnecessary administrative burden on the Commonwealth. Upon approval of the bill, the wait time will be decreased to no longer than 45 days for approval.
Both students and faculty expressed great feedback on this opportunity. This was a department funded event and a portion of the funding came directly from the PPTA. We plan to continue this educational opportunity for classes in the future!