Docs won't be able to own physical therapy, says Jim.

Physician Owned Physical Therapy (POPT) clinics may be on the way out in 2010 says Jim Needham, CEO.

Jim will present his seminar...

"Competing Against POPTs under Health Care Reform"

...in Palmetto, Florida on November 7th and 21st.

Jim Needman is a healthcare consultant and former POPTs CEO so he should know what he is talking about.

Jim's main premise is that physician practices will be unable to comply with new requirements in owning physical therapy clinics.

So you know a little bit more about Jim, here are some of his credits.

• Managed over 800 physicians across the United States
• Managed PT within several physician practices
• Most recently was the CEO of a 17 Orthopaedic and Pain Management practice
• 3 PT sites representing 20 therapists and assistants
• Worked for private practices and practice management corporations
• Closely monitoring ObamaCare and its effect on reimbursement and ancillary services ownership by physicians (includes; PT, MRI, ASCs, and others)

Jim says there is a 33% POPTs will be ruled illegal within three years - he bases his prediction on 'increased transparency and compliance requirements' large and small POPTs will have to meet under rules passed October 1, 2008.

The seminar is one hour - from 9am to 10am to be held in Palmetto, Florida at Medical Arts Rehabilitation, Inc. physical therapy clinic.

Immediately following Jim's presentation Belinda Holmes, CPA from Kerkering/Barberio will present

"Medicare Defense Strategy for Recovery Audit Contractors"

Some of Belinda's talk will include:

• RACs: What are they and how to avoid them
• OIG 2010 Work Plan
• Real life accounts of physical therapy audits
• The new focus on medical necessity

Finally, Tim Richardson will present four hours of Florida CEUs on

"Classification Decision Making for Medical Necessity and Skilled Physical Therapy"

Dates: Saturday November 7th OR Saturday November 21st

ConEd units: Four (4) hours CEUs from Florida FPTA.

Cost:

• $175 Early Bird discount (5 days prior to your selected date)
• $200 after the deadline or on-site registration.

Come to the seminar prepared to do the following:

• discover the role of POPTs in 2010
• lern how to protect yourself from RACs
• learn treatment based classification (TBC)
• practice new hands-on skills training
• apply evidence based techniques to physical therapy patient care
• improve your decision making
• make a physical therapy diagnosis

Call 941.729.1800 to ask for a course brochure or sign up by phone.

Credit cards, checks and cash accepted.

You can also sign up on-line at BulletproofPT.com and pay with PayPal.

If you want to succeed in private practice in 2010 you don't want to miss this seminar!

Three reasons why POPTs will give way to PTPP in 2010

Just this week three things have happened that lead me to question the survivability of the physician-owned physical therapy (POPT) model in 2010.

By the way, none of this seems to be directly affected by the direction of the health care reform debates - whichever way reform goes the POPT outcome seems destined to happen.

ONE

A Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) meeting October 8th listened to APTA testimony on physician ownership of physical therapy clinics. MedPAC addressed concerns about Medicare PT volume growth and ownership of PT.

Physicians who own services, like PT, to which they refer have a conflict of interests (their interests vs. their patients' best interests).

MedPAC outlined these concerns in a PowerPoint presentation by staffer Ariel Winter whose concerns are the following:

1. Could lead to higher overall volume through greater capacity and financial incentives.
   
   
2. Several studies find that physician self-referral is associated with higher volume.
   
   
3. Unclear whether additional services are appropriate or contribute to improved outcomes.

TWO

Jim Needham, former CEO of a Florida POPT, predicts a sell-off due to difficulty with compliance and transparency requirements especially small physician practices that employ physical therapists.

Jim does suggest that costs (the subject of the current debate) are the primary driver of new physician compliance legislation.

You can sign up to hear Jim's presentation in Palmetto, Florida on November 7th or November 21st at BulletproofPT.com.

THREE

My phone has been ringing off the hook from business brokers and 'principals' (guys and gals with money) who all of a sudden want to invest in outpatient physical therapy practices.

My phone rings because I sold two clinics in two separate transactions in the last two years so I'm on a list somewhere. Lucky me.

Do they know something we don't?

Maybe it's just a thaw in the frozen credit markets but physical therapy business sales are getting hot once more.

The other consideration is that investors perceive increased future expected cash flows to Physical Therapists in Private Practice (PTPP) and they see PTPPs selling for all-time historically low valuations and they want a bargain.

Maybe 2010 will be the year of the PTPP.

My advice to PTPP owners - hang tight, this may be your year.

POPTs Leader Predicts Massive Sell-Off under Health Care Reform

The Senate Finance Committee, on Tuesday October 13th, just voted 14-9 to move the fifth and final version of healthcare reform out of committee and back to the Senate for merger with more generous versions of health reform legislation passed earlier this year.

The latest measure passed with a party line vote (Democrats outnumber Republicans 13-9 on the committee) - with Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) siding with Democrats.

In Bradenton, Florida former Physician Owned Physical Therapy (POPT) clinic leader Jim Needham, CEO (MBA) predicts ominous tidings for his former employers as a result of this legislation.

Some of Jim's key points:

Why there is "Momentum Against Physician Ownership in Ancillaries (Physical Therapy)"

1. "Significant trend data showing increased payment to physicians in relationship to physician ownership growth"


2. "Generally they get reimbursement rates based on their contracts which are greater than independent PTs can get"


3. Jim predicts a 33% chance that POPTs will be ruled illegal within three years

I don't want to spoil Jim's presentation but suffice to say that much of this information is rather volatile - most POPT physicians may not even be aware of the transparency and compliance implications that Healthcare Reform will bring to their practices!

We've "mashed-up" Jim's presentation with an existing seminar on November 7th or November 21st and we're hoping the two topics are complementary:

"Classification Decision Making for Medical Necessity and Skilled Physical Therapy"

with Special Guest former POPTs CEO

Jim Needham

"Competing With POPTs under Health Care Reform"

Jim will go into greater detail during his presentation in Palmetto on November 7t and 21st and you can sign up now at http://www.bulletproofpt.com/.

The online option lets you pay with PayPal.

You can also call 941.729.1800 to register over the phone.

Finally, you can print the webpage at http://www.bulletproofpt.com/ and mail in your application along with your check - don't wait because the Early Bird Discount expires 5-days before each course.

What will health care reform bring for American physical therapists in private practice (PTPP)?

Hard to say.

Some aspects are obviously positive, such as greater transparency in physician self-referral. Other aspects may not be so positive - such as a failure to reform the physician fee schedule and the (un)Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR).

For greater insight and success in 2010 come and see Jim's presentation.

What are your thoughts?

Sign up now for the course!

Don't forget to fill out and send in your application form.

Dates

Prior to November 2 $175.00Prior to November 16 $200.00