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Direct-to-Employer Services Designation Program

Are you frustrated with the limitations of reimbursement models and the administrative burdens of working with commercial payors? Many physical therapists are finding that working directly with employers offers a less burdensome, more profitable revenue stream that reduces reliance on insurance companies. By bypassing traditional payor systems, physical therapists can provide high-value services that improve health outcomes, particularly in managing chronic musculoskeletal conditions, while significantly lowering healthcare costs for employers.

The Direct-to-Employer Services Designation Program empowers physical therapists to contract directly with employers or employer groups, helping you build a sustainable new business model. Whether you are just starting to explore direct-to-employer (D2E) services or are looking to refine your approach, this program will give you the knowledge and confidence to succeed.

What Are Direct-to-Employer Services?

D2E services enable physical therapists to partner with employers to manage the health and wellness of their workforce, reducing injury, improving productivity, and cutting healthcare costs. These services focus on preventive care, early intervention, and long-term solutions that benefit both employees and employers. This proactive approach reduces the burden of chronic diseases and musculoskeletal conditions, offering significant cost savings and improved health outcomes.

Program Benefits:

  • Earn up to 5.0 contact hours/CEUs upon completion of all three modules.
  • Be featured in the Designated Providers Directory, showcasing your expertise to potential employer clients.
  • Gain access to the Direct-to-Employer Leave Behind Flyer, a customizable marketing tool co-branded with APTA Private Practice to leave a lasting impression on prospective employer clients.

2025 REGISTRATION

The program is open to all physical therapists, with a special discount for APTA Private Practice members. To register for the Direct-to-Employer Services Designation Program, click here to be redirected to the registration page.

Once registered, APTA Private Practice Staff will manually import you into the Learning Center. Registrants will be uploaded Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern.

 PLEASE PREPARE IN ADVANCE:

  • Ensure you have a Learning Center account associated with your email or APTA ID.
  • If you do not have a Learning Center account, follow these steps to create a FREE account or contact Member Success for assistance:
  1.  Go to APTA Learning Center.
  2. Click the "Log In" button at the top right-hand side of the page.
  3. Enter the email address and password associated with your APTA account, then click "Log In." If you do not have an APTA record, click "Register" to create one.

    Important: If you already have an APTA record, please do not create a new one.

If you encounter any issues logging in or creating an account, the APTA Member Success team is happy to help. You can reach them at 800-999-APTA (2782) or via email at membersuccess@apta.org during business hours.

Join today and unlock new opportunities to expand your practice and make a lasting impact on employer healthcare strategies!

Program Structure:

The Direct-to-Employer Services Designation Program consists of three modules delivered virtually. Although you can start with any module, we recommend the following order for optimal understanding:

Module 2: Understanding the Business of Direct-to-Employer Contracting

Presented by: Holly Johnson, PT, DPT; Kelly Sanders, PT, DPT, ATC; Rick Katz, PT, DPT, MA
This module dives into the fundamentals of providing and contracting D2E services. It covers everything from proposal creation and product planning to implementation and ongoing support. Learn how to enter simple service contracts with low-risk structures, such as hourly or project-based payments, giving you a strong foundation to expand your D2E offerings.

Module 1: Effectively Connecting and Meeting with Employers to Pursue Direct Services

Presented by: Jeff Hathaway, PT, DPT; Josh A. Bailey, PT, DPT
Discover key strategies to initiate meetings with employers, conduct effective discussions, and move from initial conversations to agreements. This module teaches you how to approach employers with confidence and secure mutually beneficial solutions for their workforce's health and wellness needs.

Module 3: Legal Considerations for Direct-to-Employer Services

Presented by: Paul Welk, PT, JD; Albert Lee, JD
This module provides an overview of legal and regulatory issues related to direct contracting with employers. Topics include workers' compensation, HIPAA, ADA, OSHA, and contract provisions to consider. Understanding these legalities ensures you are well-prepared to manage risk and protect your practice.

D2E Providers Directory & Leave Behind Flyer

Once you complete the program, you’ll be featured in the D2E Providers Directory—a valuable resource that connects you with potential employer clients. You’ll also get access to the customizable Direct-to-Employer Leave-Behind Flyer, co-branded with APTA Private Practice, to market your services effectively.


Check out these additional D2E content - Free to APTA Private Practice Members!

  • PRIVATE PRACTICE - Why PT Benefits from Direct to Employer Services and How to Develop Value-Based PT Services Part 2
    Contains 2 Component(s), Includes Credits
    Component Credit Type State/Medical Type Available Credits Earned Credits
    Certificate of Completion Medical CEU 0.00 0.00

    This two-part APTA Private Practice webinar will help you analyze your current contracts in new ways with useful, easy-to-apply tools. Stay tuned for details in part two, in which you will learn how to break down your key practice indicators and determine your essential negotiating factors to improve and update your practice value. In part 2, you will learn why direct-to-employer marketing is the private practitioner's newest and best plan of action to eliminate third-party administrative burdens and improve your reimbursement, all while improving patient satisfaction and early access to PT. You will learn ways to design new PT products and develop your own contracts and payment models with innovative examples and tools you can use the next week.

​Refund Policy

All refund requests must be made in writing to Kat Castillo at kcastillo@ppsapta.org.  A refund of the full course fee, minus a $75 administrative fee, will be granted to accepted refund requests. All refund requests are at the discretion of APTA Private Practice.  No refunds will be granted for any course that has been partially started (i.e., course in progress).