PRIVATE PRACTICE - Strategic Contracting Series - Module 5 – Negotiation in Action: From Making the Ask to Walking Away

Gabe opened River Valley Therapy & Sports Medicine in September of 2001. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Health Science in 1996 and his Master of Science in Physical Therapy in 1998 from the University of Central Arkansas. He completed his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2010 through the EIM Institute of Health Professions. Gabe has attended many courses such as the McKenzie Method, Paris Techniques in Spinal Rehab, MedX Spinal Rehab and numerous orthopedic classes with an emphasis on knee, hand, and shoulder rehabilitation. He achieved his certification in Manual Therapy in 2015 as well.

Gabe has lectured on topics pertaining to physical therapy at the University of Central Arkansas, Arkansas State University, as well as worked with students at Russellville High School. Gabe is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, Arkansas Physical Therapy Association, and RehabNet of Arkansas, where he is currently President of the Board of Directors. He also serves as team physical therapist for the Pottsville High School football team and during basketball tournaments, and provides physical therapists for the Hector Wildcats.

Rick received a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in 1979 and obtained his Physical Therapy certification from a combined program at CSUN and UCLA in 1980.  He went on to receive a master’s degree in Exercise Science from CSUN in 1985 and his DPT from E.I.M. Institute in 2013.

 He is currently a faculty member at CSUN.  He is a frequent lecturer at Mount St. Mary’s University, USC and multiple P.T. schools on management, billing and payer relations.  In addition, he has held numerous elected and appointed positions at the national, state and local levels of the American Physical Therapy Association including CPTA Finance Officer, Government Affairs Committee Chairperson, Chapter Delegate and APTA appointed workgroups. He was President of the California Physical Therapy Association for six years (2020-2025). He also served on the Payment Policy Committee for the Private Practice Section of the APTA for 12 years.  He is the recipient of the California Physical Therapy Association’ James McKillip Leadership Award, Clarence Hultgren Service Award and the Charles Magistro Service Award.  He has been recognized by CSUN’s School of Health and Human Development as a Distinguished Alumni.

Rick worked for two of the largest physical therapy companies in the country where he managed over 325 locations and performed payer contracting. Rick sold his multi-state physical therapy company to ATI Physical Therapy in 2016.  He worked for Spine and Sport Physical Therapy/PRN (2020-2025) with 250 locations in multiple states as their Vice President of Development and Payer Contracting. He was in leadership role in performing clinic acquisitions and company growth.   He currently is the CEO of Katz PT Consulting and Coaching PC where he provides practice analytics, operational management, payer contracting review, professional advocacy and revenue enhancement coaching along with helping practices prepare for an exit strategy.  He also continues to serve as a Practice Expert for the Physical Therapy Licensing Board of California. 

Berni Willis, based in Clarksville, OH, US, is currently a Executive Director at Mid American Rehabilitation Network. Berni Willis brings experience from previous roles at Ohio Physical Therapy Association, OptimistPT, Mid American Rehab (previously OPTN) and Comprehensive Physical Therapy Center. With a robust skill set that includes Management, CPT, Revenue Cycle Management, Practice Management, Healthcare Management and more.

Kelly serves as the president of Movement for Life, an employee-owned company that operates outpatient clinics in Arizona, California, North Carolina, and Virginia. She started her career as a certified athletic trainer. She entered PT school at the University of Southern California while also working in their outreach program as a high school athletic trainer. Kelly has also had the opportunity to be active in the APTA Private Practice Section, currently serving on the Board of Directors with past membership on the Editorial Board, as well as payment policy, value-based care, telehealth, and COVID-19 task forces and committees.

RICK GAWENDA, PT, is a licensed physical therapist with over 30 years of experience and currently serves as the founder and President of Gawenda Seminars & Consulting, Inc. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, in 1991.

He has provided valuable education and consulting to hospitals, private practices, skilled nursing facilities, and rehabilitation agencies in the areas of CPT coding, ICD-10 coding, billing, documentation compliance, revenue enhancement, practice management, and denial management as they relate to outpatient therapy services. Mr. Gawenda has presented nationally since 2004 and has provided over 1000 on-site seminars and webinars.

In addition, Mr. Gawenda is retained by attorneys to serve as an expert in regard to legal or physical therapy state board issues regarding documentation, billing, supervision, and utilization of support personnel and compliance with insurance rules and regulations as well as physical therapy state board requirements.

Mr. Gawenda is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and Michigan Physical Therapy Association (MPTA). Mr. Gawenda is a Past President of the Section on Health Policy & Administration of the APTA. He is the current Chair of the APTA Private Practice Payment Policy

Mr. Gawenda is also the author of “The How-To Manual for Rehab Documentation: A Complete Guide to Increasing Reimbursement and Reducing Denials” and “Coding and Billing for Outpatient Rehab Made Easy: Proper Use of CPT Codes, ICD-9 Codes, and Modifiers”.