Editor(s): John "Jack" Bennett, JD | Erik van Doorne, PT, DPT

One of the most common problems in dealing with third-party payers is what to do when a payer implements a policy that has an adverse impact on payment for physical therapists' services. Physical therapists and business office managers must be able to determine if the terms of a contract with a payer are sufficient to meet the needs of the business. This presentation will discuss third party contracts, what to look for before you sign contracts, and what specific language means for your business. This presentation will also review what is negotiable and what is not in a contract and how to avoid signing bad contracts. In a time of decreasing reimbursement signing the right contracts is vital to the survival of private practices and maybe to the physical therapy profession in general. Finally, this program will alert you to legal restrictions on what you and your fellow physical therapists jointly may do in response to payer initiatives and what your professional association may do.

Note: Although this presentation may provide information concerning legal issues, such information is not intended to be legal advice or to be a substitute for your own lawyer's counsel, and the presentation does not create an attorney-client relationship. Nothing that you may say to the presenters will be confidential, nor will it be protected by the attorney-client privilege.

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Upon completion of the audio conference, you will be able to:

1. Understand the essential elements of outpatient physical therapy contract analysis and contract negotiation.
2. Identify what is negotiable in a provider contract and what is not.
3. Identify the boundaries and limits of negotiating and discussing fees with insurance companies.
4. Understand the implications of signing below cost contracts to their practice and to the PT profession.
5. Interpret important aspects of contract language.
6. Assess your current contracts and future contracts for pertinent language.
7. Recognize responses to payer initiatives that are legally problematic, ones that are permissible, and ones that should be undertaken only with a lawyer's counsel.

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On successful completion of the examination, 0.2 CEUs (2.0 contact hours/CCUs) and a certificate of completion will be awarded. The American Physical Therapy Association has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102. Provider (#380).

Many state agencies recognize APTA as a recognized or approved provider for continuing education. The following state agencies have granted prior approval for this continuing education offering:

• Ohio State Board of Physical Therapy: 0.2 Ohio CEUs (13S0405)
• Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure & Supervision: 2.0 Category B Hours
• Texas Physical Therapy Association: 2.0 CCUs (#APTA082010TPTA2013016)
• Nevada Board of Physical Therapy Examiners: 0.2 CEUs
• California Physical Therapy Association: CPTA2012-13

Please note: Licensees should verify with their state licensing board for acceptance of continuing education units by reviewing the relevant state practice act and/or administrative code.

-more CEU information-

CD-ROM

Platform: 
Microsoft Windows XP Pentium-class PC (300 MHz or higher recommended), 128 MB RAM, 8x CD-ROM drive or better, Microsoft Windows Media Player 8.0 (or higher), Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 (or higher), Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher. Please note: CD-ROMS do not work on Mac's!

Downloads:
To obtain the most recent version of the Microsoft programs go to, www.microsoft.com, click on Downloads. To obtain adobe reader go to, www.adobe.com click on "get Adobe reader."

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