TAKE ACTION: SB 3560 DRY NEEDLING

SB 3560 modernizes the statutory definition of dry needling to reflect how it is practiced in contemporary rehabilitation care, while preserving a clear legal boundary from acupuncture. The definition update is applied consistently across the Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Athletic Training Acts to maintain uniformity in statute. Read more.

Why the Update Is Needed

Current law defines dry needling in highly prescriptive terms that prohibit the use of heat, cold, or any adjunct modality in conjunction with the technique. That language was adopted when dry needling education and standards were still developing. Today, dry needling is not delivered as a stand-alone intervention. It is one component of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan that may also include:

• Therapeutic exercise
• Manual therapy
• Electrical stimulation
• Heat or cold modalities

The existing statute creates clinical confusion by implying that routine PT tools, such as heat or ice, cannot be used in the same treatment session. Physical therapists are doctoral-educated, licensed healthcare professionals who are already trained and regulated in the safe use of these modalities.

SB 3560 does NOT change what dry needling is:

• Does NOT expand scope of practice
• Does NOT authorize acupuncture
• Does NOT reduce training or competency standards.
• Does NOT authorize deeper or different anatomical access.

Dry needling remains grounded in western medical theory, physical examination, diagnosis, and neuromuscular treatment. The bill explicitly EXCLUDES acupuncture and eastern medicine philosophy.

SB 3560 simply removes outdated restrictions that artificially separate dry needling from other licensed PT modalities used in the same plan of care, while preserving clear professional boundaries between dry needling and acupuncture.

CONTACT COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ASK FOR THEIR SUPPORT

Members of the Senate Licensed Activities Committee; and their staff emails addresses:

Chair: Suzy Glowiak Hilton – jdowis@senatedem.ilga.gov

Vice-Chair Javier L. Cervantes – mrussell@senatedem.ilga.gov

Members:

• Christopher Belt- bclark@senatedem.ilga.gov
• Michael E. Hastings-mmiller@senatedem.ilga.gov
• Emil Jones, III-prhodes@senatedem.ilga.gov
• Ram Villivalam-pmcchesney@senatedem.ilga.gov
• Steve McClure-lnein@sgop.ilga.gov (Minority Spokesperson)
• Erica Harriss-bellis@sgop.ilga.gov
• Dave Syverson-crechner@sgop.ilga.gov

Sample Messages:

 

 

TAKE ACTION: SB 3295 INS-DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

The durable medical equipment (DME) legislation supporting recognition of physical therapists’ DME orders is scheduled to be heard in committee March 3rd. This is a critical step in the legislative process—and a key moment for grassroots advocacy.

Committee members need to hear directly from physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and supporters of patient access to care. Personal outreach from constituents helps legislators understand the real-world impact of this issue on patients, providers, and the health care system.

Why this matters:

• Improves patient access by reducing delays in receiving medically necessary equipment
• Prevents unnecessary duplication of services when patients are sent to another provider solely for paperwork
• Reduces administrative burden and cost for patients, insurers, and the health care system
• Aligns insurance practices with existing law recognizing physical therapists as qualified health care professionals

Legislators to be contacted:

Members of the Senate Insurance Committee; and their staff emails addresses:

Chair: Julie A. Morrison-dwilson@senatedem.ilga.gov

Vice-Chair: Laura Fine

Members:

• Cristina Castro-Bheigl@senatedem.ilga.gov
• Bill Cunningham-tyarrington@senatedem.ilga.gov
• Laura Ellman- dbrewer@senatedem.ilga.gov
• Suzy Glowiak Hilton- jdowis@seatedem.ilga.gov
• Napoleon Harris, III- DHickman@senatedem.ilga.gov
• Willie Preston-jjones@senatedem.ilga.gov
• Mark L. Walker-pwilliams@senatedem.ilga.gov
• Dave Syverson-crechner@sgop.ilga.gov (Minority Spokesperson)
• Neil Anderson-crechner@sgop.ilga.gov
• Jason Plummer-shessenauer@sgop.ilga.gov
• Chapin Rose-causmus@sgop.ilga.gov

Sample Messages:

 

 

IPTA Submits Comments on Proposed Federal Student Loan Changes Affecting PT Education

We want to share an important advocacy update related to physical therapy education and the future PT workforce.

The Illinois Physical Therapy Association (IPTA) recently submitted formal comments to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) in response to its proposal titled Reimagining and Improving Student Education. The proposal would establish new federal student loan borrowing limits and reclassify certain academic programs—including physical therapy doctoral programs.

Why this matters:

Under the proposal, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs would be reclassified as standard “graduate” programs rather than “professional” programs. This change would impose an aggregate federal loan cap of approximately $100,000—an amount that does not align with the actual cost of attendance for most accredited DPT programs.

In our comments, IPTA emphasized that:

• Physical therapy programs are doctoral-level, licensure-required health professions with mandated clinical education and accreditation standards.
• Borrowing caps do not regulate tuition; instead, they shift financial risk to students and may reduce access—particularly for first-generation students, those from rural or underserved communities, and students with existing undergraduate debt.
• Without institutional accountability measures, borrowing limits are unlikely to lower program costs and may worsen workforce shortages in rehabilitation services.

What IPTA recommended:

We urged the Department of Education to consider constructive alternatives, including:

• Creating a distinct category for licensure-required clinical doctoral programs, rather than relying on degree labels alone.
• Pairing borrowing limits with institutional accountability measures that address tuition growth and transparency.
• Supporting workforce-aligned solutions, such as service-based loan forgiveness and federal–state partnerships.
• Addressing major cost drivers directly, including the financial burden of required clinical education.

Our goal is to reduce student debt without restricting access to the PT profession or undermining the workforce pipeline Illinois communities depend on.

We will continue to monitor this issue closely and keep members informed as the rulemaking process moves forward. Thank you for your continued engagement and support of IPTA’s advocacy efforts.

New Legislation Introduced to Protect PT Authority to Order Durable Medical Equipment (SB 3295)

A new piece of Illinois legislation has been introduced to clarify and protect the ability of licensed physical therapists to order durable medical equipment (DME) — ensuring patients receive timely access to the equipment they need to move safely and recover effectively.

Why This Matters
Physical therapists routinely evaluate mobility, functional limitations, and safety risks. As part of patient care, PTs often determine the need for assistive devices such as walkers, braces, wheelchairs, or other home medical equipment. Yet despite PTs’ clinical expertise — and despite existing Illinois law — some insurance companies continue to deny or delay coverage when DME is ordered by a physical therapist, requiring an unnecessary physician signature instead. These delays can lead to:

• Slower recovery
• Increased fall risk
• Additional appointments and administrative burden
• Higher overall healthcare costs

This legislation aims to fix that.

What the Law Already Says
Illinois statute already recognizes physical therapists as healthcare practitioners who may lawfully order home medical equipment. The Home Medical Equipment and Services Provider License Act (225 ILCS 51/10) explicitly includes physical therapists among the professionals who may prescribe or order home medical equipment and services — alongside physicians, nurses, and other licensed providers.

The issue is not scope of practice.
The issue is insurer policy not aligning with Illinois law.

What This Legislation Does
The proposed legislation:

• Reinforces existing Illinois law
• Clarifies that insurers should accept DME orders from licensed physical therapists
• Reduces unnecessary delays and administrative hurdles
• Supports timely, patient-centered care
• Aligns insurance policy with modern, value-based care models

This is not an expansion of scope — it is a clarification to ensure patients don’t get caught in the middle.

Why PTs Are the Right Providers to Order DME
Physical therapists:

• Are licensed independent practitioners in Illinois
• Have direct access authority
• Assess mobility, function, and safety
• Fit and train patients on equipment
• Monitor outcomes and adjust care plans

When PTs can order equipment directly, patients get the right device, at the right time, with the right training — improving outcomes and reducing downstream costs.

How This Helps Your Practice

• Fewer delays for patients
• Less paperwork and duplication
• Stronger continuity of care
• Clearer authority when working with DME suppliers and insurers
• Better outcomes and patient satisfaction

What’s Next
Illinois Physical Therapy Association is actively advocating for this legislation and engaging lawmakers and payers to ensure insurance policy aligns with Illinois statute and PT practice authority.

Member advocacy matters. Sharing real-world examples of delayed equipment, denied claims, or patient harm caused by unnecessary barriers helps reinforce why this legislation is needed.

PT Compact Bill (HB 4609) Reintroduced in Illinois — Why It Matters and What’s Shaping the Debate

Once again, Illinois lawmakers have introduced legislation this session to bring the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact) into Illinois law. The PT Compact is an interstate agreement that allows eligible physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to practice in other member states through a “Compact Privilege.” 

Rather than obtaining a separate full license in each state, clinicians can obtain these privileges once they meet eligibility criteria — increasing mobility and improving access to care across state lines. Importantly, compacts are not amendable by individual states once enacted — members agree to common rules administered by an interstate commission. This means concerns about specific policy adjustments to a compact after joining must be addressed before Illinois becomes a member, because states generally cannot change compact terms unilaterally after ratification.

Where the PT Compact Stands Nationally
As of early 2026, 37 states have enacted the PT Compact and participate in issuing privileges, enabling broader cross-state practice for eligible licensees. Several additional states have passed compact legislation but are not yet actively issuing privileges, and a handful have bills pending.

Why Illinois Has Been a Tough Hill to Climb
Illinois has considered compact membership multiple times, but passage has repeatedly stalled for a mix of reasons:

• Regulatory and oversight concerns: Some stakeholder groups — including organized labor and provider unions in related healthcare fields — have pushed back against compacts in general out of concern that an interstate commission could have rulemaking authority that supersedes Illinois’ own regulatory processes.
• Professional practice standards: Variance in continuing education, scope rules, and licensing requirements among states has raised questions about whether compact privileges would meaningfully respect Illinois’ existing standards — especially in professions with strong state-specific requirements.
• Broader social policy context: Illinois has enacted state laws that affirm and protect access to reproductive health care and gender-affirming medical care — even for out-of-state patients — and has shielded providers from discipline for offering care that may be restricted elsewhere. In 2023, Illinois passed the Patient and Provider Protection Act (HB 4664) to safeguard both abortion and gender-affirming care in the state and prevent enforcement of out-of-state restrictions.

Because a compact binds member states to common standards and cooperation, some advocates have voiced administrative fears that membership could create conflicts between compact privilege obligations and Illinois’ protective approach to reproductive and gender-affirming health care (especially since some compact states have very restrictive laws related to these issues).
Note: these concerns represent positions raised in past debates on licensure compacts; they are not specific legislative language in the current PT Compact bill.

Why the PT Compact Matters for Illinois
Despite past hurdles, Illinois stands to benefit in several key ways if it joins the PT Compact:

• Enhanced access for patients: Particularly in border communities and for telehealth services, providers with compact privileges can respond more quickly to patient needs without waiting for separate state licenses.
• Greater workforce flexibility: The Compact helps clinicians move more easily across states for travel assignments, seasonal demand, or recruitment by multi-state health systems — easing staffing shortages.
• Preserves state authority & safety: Compact membership doesn’t eliminate Illinois’ role in protecting the public — clinicians still must hold an unrestricted home-state license and comply with Illinois practice laws, criminal background checks, and professional standards.

Looking Ahead
HB 4609 now moves into committee consideration. Lawmakers will weigh feedback from professional associations, advocates, and public stakeholders as they consider the state’s role in an interstate licensure framework — alongside broader healthcare policy trends in Illinois.

As the session unfolds, members who care about mobility, access to care, and workforce planning may want to share real-world stories about how cross-state barriers affect patient care and recruitment. Clear, practical examples often resonate with legislators debating the Compact’s benefits and safeguards.

New Legislation Introduced to Clarify Dry Needling Practice in Illinois

The Illinois Physical Therapy Association is pleased to share that new legislation (SB 3560) has been introduced to modernize and clarify the practice of dry needling in Illinois — an important step in ensuring state law reflects how physical therapy is safely and effectively practiced today. This legislation updates the Illinois Physical Therapy Practice Act to clearly define dry needling as a western, evidence-based physical therapy technique, while maintaining a firm and explicit boundary from acupuncture and any eastern medicine theory or philosophy.

“This is about clarity, accuracy, and patient protection,” said Mike Riley, PT, IPTA State Policy Liaison. “The bill does not change what dry needling is — it updates the law so it reflects modern physical therapy education, evidence, and clinical practice.”  

What the Legislation Does
The proposed legislation:

• Clarifies dry needling as an advanced physical therapy technique grounded in western medical science
• Removes outdated technical restrictions that no longer reflect current PT practice
• Maintains an explicit prohibition on acupuncture and eastern medicine philosophy
• Improves regulatory clarity and consistency for clinicians and regulators

Rather than listing individual techniques in statute, the updated language focuses on professional framework, licensure, and evidence-based practice, allowing care to evolve with science.

Why This Update Is Important
When dry needling was first addressed in Illinois law, education standards and clinical evidence were still emerging. Since then, physical therapy education, research, and national practice standards have advanced significantly.
The current statute includes technical prohibitions—such as restrictions on needle retention, electrical stimulation, and the use of common PT modalities like heat or cold—that no longer reflect how dry needling is taught or delivered in modern physical therapy.

These outdated restrictions can:

• Create confusion and inconsistent interpretation
• Fragment patient care
• Limit clinicians’ ability to deliver coordinated, evidence-based treatment

This legislation replaces technical micromanagement with clear, principle-based regulation rooted in western medical practice.

What This Means for Members
For IPTA members, this legislation:

• Clarifies the legal framework for modern dry needling practice
• Supports integrated, patient-centered care
• Reduces regulatory ambiguity
• Aligns Illinois law with national standards
• Strengthens patient safety and professional oversight

Importantly, this proposal does not expand physical therapy into acupuncture and does not change licensure boundaries.

Benefits for Patients
Patients benefit from:

• Faster recovery and improved function
• Safe, non-opioid pain management options
• Fewer treatment delays and unnecessary referrals
• More coordinated and efficient care

All services remain delivered by licensed, doctoral-educated physical therapists under existing regulatory oversight.

What Happens Next
The legislation will move through the Illinois General Assembly committee process, where IPTA will continue to advocate for clarity, safety, and evidence-based physical therapy practice.
Members will receive updates and opportunities to engage as the bill progresses.

Key Takeaway
Illinois is not changing what dry needling is — it is updating the law so it accurately reflects modern, western, evidence-based physical therapy practice.

Thank you for supporting IPTA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of the profession and the patients we serve.

Kyle Mundhenke, PT, DPT, COMT IPTA 2026 Federal Affairs Liaison Member since 2010

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. As we begin 2026, I’m excited to continue serving as your Federal Affairs Liaison. My goal remains the same: to increase awareness of federal legislative and regulatory updates affecting our profession and to foster open communication with members. As a state, we did an outstanding job last year with our federal advocacy efforts. We held at least one meeting during the August recess and made several meaningful connections with legislators and key contacts throughout the year. In July, Illinois was well represented with a strong and diverse delegation at APTA Capitol Hill Day. We met with numerous Illinois House members and both senators to discuss several key issues including Medicare payment reform, pelvic floor physical therapy advocacy, and PT workforce legislation. To be effective in advocacy efforts at the state and federal level, we need active and informed individuals working as a collective team with the common goal of advancing our profession and furthering our legislative and regulatory interests. I truly appreciate the effort members made to commit to being informed on the issues as well as taking the time to make small but MEANINGFUL steps to further advocacy efforts. I hope to continue to serve as a resource to provide concise and up-to-date information, answer questions, and foster meaningful connections between individuals with vested interests in advocacy goals. This month, I want to provide a congressional update, an update on the RISE Committee’s PT Student Loan situation, and a brief home health PT regulatory update.‘

Congressional Update

With the government shutdown ending in mid-November, year-end business on Capitol Hill has been fast-paced. One of the key focuses of legislative efforts was the Affordable Care Act’s Expanded Premium Tax Credits, which were set to expire on January 1. The House passed a GOP-supported healthcare package in mid-December; as expected, it did not address the tax credits. While the package projected $35.6 billion in savings through 2035 and appropriated funding for cost-sharing reduction payments aimed at lower-income customers, an estimated 100,000 individuals were expected to lose insurance coverage.

As anticipated, House Democrats contested the package and utilized a “discharge petition”—a procedural maneuver allowing a majority of the House or Senate to force leadership to bring a bill up for consideration—to compel a vote on this issue. They ultimately succeeded in passing a bill extending the tax credits for another three years with all Democrats and nine Republicans voting in favor of the petition. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it will likely face challenges.

RISE Committee and PT Student Loans Update

Last month, I discussed the Department of Education and the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee’s recommendations regarding the definitions of “professional” versus “graduate” degrees. As part of H.R. 1 (The One Big Beautiful Bill Act) introduced earlier this year, the Department of Education was directed to use a negotiated rulemaking process to clarify which academic degrees should be classified as professional versus graduate for purposes of subsidized student loans. Currently, federal regulations are vague—listing several professions but explicitly stating “not limited to” those listed. In contrast, the RISE Committee’s proposal adopted a more specific yet limited scope for the “professional degree” designation, excluding PT, OT, speech, and nursing, among others. This exclusion carries significant implications for both annual and lifetime student loan caps, as the “professional” classification allows for higher borrowing limits ($50,000 per year, $200,000 lifetime) compared to the “graduate” classification ($20,500 per year, $100,000 lifetime).

While the Department of Education website stresses that the delineation between a “graduate” and a “professional” program has no bearing on the judgement or importance of programs, the effect it will have on student loan debt and the cost of physical therapy education will not immediately be realized.

In response to this, APTA has been spearheading advocacy efforts, serving as a founding member of the Alliance for Healthcare Access and Workforce Development, focused on addressing this rule and urging Congress to develop a more equitable solution that includes all stakeholders. Through comment letters to the Department of Education and meetings with members of Congress and staff, APTA is highlighting the obvious lack of input by stakeholders in the committee’s decision making process, the ‘massive and sudden change brought about suddenly with seemingly no warning’, and the need for a more robust and complex solution instead of the current ‘slash and burn approach’.

Remember, this recommendation is a proposal and IS NOT a final ruling. There will be a comment period during which both APTA and individual providers will be able to submit comments opposing this recommendation. Currently, APTA has several action alerts available on the APTA Advocacy App that can be sent to your respective legislators opposing this recommendation. If you have any questions regarding this issue, please reach out at kmundhenke@gmail.com. I will keep you updated on any changes or developments.

Home Health Regulatory Update

Also released in December by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was the final Home Health ruling for 2026. The final proposal included a 1.3% cut to home health agency reimbursement, which was a significantly less than the proposed 6.4% reduction. The cuts are largely due to implementation of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model as well as a new temporary behavioral adjustment. More details in the final ruling for 2026 can be found here.

How to Get Involved
Change cannot happen overnight. It also cannot happen without widespread support and involvement from IPTA members. Fortunately, it is extremely easy to become involved in advocacy efforts.

Advocacy plays such an important role in the sustainability of the profession, but in order to have effective advocacy efforts, we need members engaged and knowledgeable of the issues. However, staying up to date on the issues can be difficult, especially considering the pace that things develop on Capitol Hill. The APTA Legislative Update Bill Status lists bills the APTA is currently tracking, provides updates (quarterly) on their progress in the house/senate, provides position papers on the bills/issues, and provides links to relevant APTA-specific news and updates. I highly encourage you to check this resource out.

One easy step to get involved is to explore the APTA Patient Action Center. This provides information on current legislative efforts and initiatives and provides the opportunity for you to send letters/emails to your respective representative. Most letters are pre-populated (all you have to do is push send!), but the form letter also provides the option to explain how that particular legislation would benefit your practice and the profession.

Another great way to get involved in advocacy efforts is to join the APTA Advocacy Network. The Advocacy Network is a great resource to stay up to date on the latest advocacy news and information. It also provides action alerts to call/email your members of Congress on pressing legislation if subscribed.

Remember, EVERY VOICE MATTERS. As always, If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at kmundhenke@gmail.com. It is my pleasure to serve as your Federal Affairs Liaison.

2025 Legislative Wrap Up: Report to Members

By: Colleen Flannery, IPTA Executive Director

The General Assembly stands in recess and the following legislation successfully passed out of both chambers and will be sent to the Governor’s office to be signed into law.

SB 2496: PT Act Sunset
In the physical therapy world, this was by far the most impactful bill to be introduced this session, as it extends the regulatory sunset of licensed physical therapy practice to December 31, 2030, an extension of five years.
Typically, these “sunset bills” are administrative in nature and do not make any significant changes to professional practice. SB 2496’s administrative changes include:

• Changes in the use of pronouns (e.g. “he or she” to “that person”, “the physical therapist”, or “the physical therapist assistant”.) (225 ILCS 90)
• Requirements for maintaining valid mail and email addresses on file with the Department. (225 ILCS 90/1.1)
• Edits the description of dry needling from “intramuscular therapy” to “intramuscular manual therapy” to correct a previous error and consistent with the language used in the Rules for the Administration of the Physical Therapy Act. (225 ILCS 90/1.5)
• Removes the IDFPR’s ability to “sell” the PT and PTA license list to any interested person. (225 ILCS 90/3)
• Provides for a person to use an Individual Taxpayer Identification instead of a Social Security number on an application for licensure. (225 ILCS 90/8.5)
• Establishes a returned check policy. (225 ILCS 90/16.1)
• Establishes a certification of record to a court policy. (225 ILCS 90/25.5)

This bill also made subtle, but significant changes to the Act:

• Changes the definition of physical therapy, replacing “person” with “patient” to provide for a patient to be something other than a person, and, along with amending the section that provides for the revocation, suspension, probation, reprimand or other disciplinary action for treating ailments of human beings outside of PT scope, to remove “human beings”, eliminates obstacles for veterinarians to refer animals to physical therapy , which is allowed under the Veterinary Practice Act. (225 ILCS 90/1 and 17)
• Provides for physical therapy to be performed “with or without assistive devices” to also include “equipment”, to clarify that PTs utilize types of durable medical equipment in practice.  (225 ILCS 90/1)
• Clarifies that the exclusion of “radiology” does not mean that a PT cannot refer to radiology or order diagnostic imaging, but that a physical therapist cannot “practice” radiology (i.e. perform and/or interpret an X-ray). (225 ILCS 90/1)
• Physical therapy services are amended to limit the requirements for monthly communications to treating health care professionals for patients diagnosed with a chronic disease to only those without a referral; for those with a referral, that communication just needs to be consistent with the plan of care. (225 ILCS 90/1.2)
• Removes the requirement that consult and collaboration with the appropriate health care professional for conditions that may be related to temporomandibular disorder result in a diagnosis by that health care professional. (225 ILCS 90/1.2)
• Expands term protection to include violations not only by a person, but now also by companies who advertise physical therapy services without a licensed PT on staff.

SB 2153 Physical Therapy Telehealth
While only signed into law last summer and put into effect January 1, 2025, Section 1.3 of the Act was the subject of amendment this session due to objections from PT telehealth service providers who do not have the capacity to provide in-person services within Illinois.

The new language lessens some restrictions that were originally put in place:
While initially prohibited except under certain hardships, the new language allows for initial evaluations to be performed by a physical therapist via telehealth, providing one of the following conditions are met:

• The patient has a referral or diagnosis from a health care professional.
• The patient has an established relationship with the physical therapist.
• The physical therapist has the capacity to perform an in-person examination or re-examination or facilitate an in-person examination or re-examination by a physical therapist at any time throughout the course of the patient’s care.

The new language still includes provisions for a PT or PTA to require that a patient undergo an in-person visit and for the patient to request and receive in-person care at any point during their treatment.

The bill reinforces that the scope of physical therapy is limited to what is contained within the Illinois Physical Therapy Act and that the standards of care for telehealth delivery are equal to in-person care.  It also clarifies that the patient must be located in the State of Illinois and that the treating PT or PTA must be licensed in Illinois.

Finally, there are provisions for the IDFPR to exempt PTs and PTAs providing care through EI, IEPs and 504s from certain areas of this section to address service delivery delays.

SB 69 Riding Therapy
When initially introduced, this bill would have required insurance companies to pay for both hippotherapy services and therapeutic riding but was amended to exclude therapeutic riding.  As of January 1, 2027, medically necessary services that incorporate equine movement as part of a therapeutic intervention must be covered under group or individual accident or health insurance as long as it is provided by a occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech-language pathologist working with a professional horse handler and therapy horse.

Other legislation we followed was not successful in advancing through the General Assembly.

HB 3420 Physical Therapy Compact
This was only one of the many compact bills introduced this session.  Nurses, dentists and hygienists, physician assistants, social workers, massage therapists, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists all also attempted to pass compacts.  Illinois’ current administration continues to oppose joining health care compacts, citing concerns over comprehensive reproductive and gender affirming care and the potential repercussions to providers working within compact privileges.

SB 2452 Acupuncture Act
As part of SB 2452, the acupuncturists attempted to remove the provision that states that an acupuncturist licensed under the Acupuncture Practice Act who is not also licensed as a physical therapist under the Illinois Physical Therapy Act shall not hold himself or herself out as being qualified to provide physical therapy or physiotherapy services.  This bill failed to advance.

With session over, our efforts will now be focused on rulemaking through the IDFPR.  Prior to session start, a rules package was developed but will now be revised to incorporate changes brought on by the expected adoption of SB 2496 and 2153.

Gov. Pritzker Signs Illinois Telehealth Bill

On August 9th, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed HB5087, our Telehealth Bill.

This will become effective January 1, 2025 and further defines the terms in which physical therapy may be provided via telehealth.  Specifically, it requires that direct access evaluations (no referral or documented differential diagnosis) can only be performed by a licensed physical therapist, and only via telehealth if there is a documented hardship, which includes but is not limited to geographical, physical or weather-related conditions. It also states that telehealth should not be the primary means for delivering care and exceptions must be documented with clinical justification. Patient choice is also required, meaning that a patient must be able to request and receive in-person care at any point during their plan of care and the physical therapist telehealth provider must have the capacity to provide that in-person care within the State of Illinois.

HB 4643 Passed Senate!

After unanimous passage in it’s third reading in the Senate, HB 4643 (our Direct Access Bill) has officially passed out of both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly!

Next stop – the Governor’s desk! In 30 days, HB 4643 will be sent to the Governor's office for his review and signature. Click here to brush up on how a bill becomes law in Illinois.

This important legislation will provide better and faster access to physical therapists for all populations, including Medicare patients, and will help in the fight against opioid abuse in Illinois, as physical therapy is a non-prescription, non- addictive way to reduce pain.

Thanks to all who helped in our advocacy efforts, including support from our members, legislators and friends of physical therapy – together we are making a difference!

Thank You Donors!

Your donations to the IPT-PAC have made a huge difference as we have moved to gain direct access.  This year we have raised a very impressive $25,503 to date, including a record 104 donors who gave during the District Challenge.  However, the path to direct access has been an expensive one as well.  We have already given $34,000 in campaign donations this year, with many requests coming in each week.  Plus, we still have many items on our Legislative agenda.

DONATE TO THE IPT-PAC TODAY!

Our next big challenge will be the Fourth Annual WEEK OF GIVING, which will run from October 7 – October 21.  Not only will we be celebrating National Physical Therapy Month, we hope you will consider donating to the IPT-PAC and promoting physical therapy in Illinois.

 

Permanent Fix to the Medicare Therapy Cap Signed into Law

Last Friday, Congress passed a $500 billion bipartisan budget deal that funds the US government through March 23, 2018 and sets the spending framework for 2019. President Trump signed the budget deal into law. The deal increases both military and domestic spending, and addresses disaster relief along with a host of critical federal health programs, including a permanent fix to the Medicare Part B Therapy Cap.

The Good. We should take a moment to celebrate closing the door on a 20 year advocacy effort that has challenged our ability ensure timely and appropriate services to patients.

The legislation enacted today provides a fix for the therapy cap by permanently extending the current exceptions process, eliminating the need to fix this issue from year to year. 

• Therapy claims for outpatient Medicare Part B that go above $2,010 (adjusted annually) will still require the use of the KX modifier for attestation that services are medically necessary.
• The threshold for targeted medical review will be lowered from the current $3,700 to $3,000 through 2027. While the threshold amount for medical review will be lowered, CMS will not receive any increased funding to pursue expanded medical review, and the overall number of targeted medical reviews is not expected to increase.
• Claims that go above $3,000 will not automatically be subject to targeted medical review; only a percentage of providers who meet certain criteria will be targeted, such as those who have had a high claims denial percentage or have aberrant billing patterns compared with their peers.

The Surprising. There are some provisions of the budget deal in which APTA does not support. Including a provision to reduce payment for services in which a PTA is involved under Medicare Part B. Beginning January 1, 2022, payment for services provided by a PTA, as well as services provided by an OTA would be paid at 85% of the Medicare fee schedule.

Congressional rules require certain policies to be linked to other policies known as “pay-fors” at the  time that the policy change is proposed. On February 5th, the House of Representatives released a proposed package, which included a last- minute addition of a PTA and OTA payment differential. This payment differential came as surprise as it was NOT part of any prior discussions or negotiations as part of the bipartisan, bicameral agreement.

The APTA and AOTA have responded with alternative proposals to eliminate, reduce, or delay the PTA and OTA payment differential.

Even though the efforts of these legislative options were rejected, the fight in not over. The next step is for CMS to develop proposed rules to further define and provide additional guidance prior to implementation.

APTA will leverage its congressional champions, the APTA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, and the PTA Caucus on strategies to address the CMS activities. Our collective efforts will drive the association’s work to ensure that guidance to implement the new policy is favorable to PTAs and the profession, while assuring access is not limited for those in need of our services.

Impact on Home Health:

The budget deal impacts home health positively by:

• Including an extension of the home health rule add-on at current levels for 2018, and varied add-on rates for rural counties from 2019 through 2022.
• Includes a provision allowing home health medical records to be used to determine eligibility for services.
• Requires the FY 2020 market basket update for home health agencies to increase by 1.5% in 2020.

The negative impact on home health includes:

• Requires a budget-neutral transition to a 30-day unit of service for home health services, down from the current 60- day unit payment starting in 2020.
• Eliminates the use of therapy thresholds in case-mix adjustment factors.
• Includes requirement to convene at least one session of a technical expert panel to identify and prioritize recommendations for the revised payment system.
• Requires HHS to undergo rulemaking to propose and then finalize the revised payment system prior to January 1, 2020.

Over the coming days, APTA will provide additional details on the budget deal. 

Dry Needling: Rules Process to Begin

Governor Bruce Rauner (R) signed legislation Friday, August 25, 2017, amending the Illinois Physical Therapy Act to include dry needling within the scope of practice for licensed physical therapists.

Senate Bill 898, sponsored by State Senator Pamela J. Althoff (R), and State Representative Theresa Mah (D) defines dry needling, outlines educational requirements for physical therapists, and the requirements to demonstrate compliance with the law.

Today in Chicago, the IDFPR's Physical Therapy License & Disciplinary Board will begin to consider how the new dry needling laws translate into practice.

"The biggest challenge will be determining how individuals who have already completed dry needling education will determine what, if any, additional training will be required," stated IPTA's Executive Director, Colleen Flannery. 

The educational requirements are complex, particularly the requirement of documentation of the PT's first 200 patient treatments.  For those who were practicing dry needling clinicians already, this will be a challenge -- and one that the IPTA hopes IDFPR will address in the coming weeks.

"We recognize that everyone is anxious to return to incorporating dry needling into practice and we are waiting for guidance from IDFPR on how that should happen." 

Special updates will be provided as information becomes available. 

So... What's Next?

Many members have asked where do we go next after dry needling? My first response is that there is still work to be done for dry needling. SB 898 is in the Governor’s office now where he can choose to sign, veto or suggest changes. Providing it is signed, we will still need to work through the rules process with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations (IDFPR). As a result of the initial opposition to SB 898, the dry needling bill contains a great deal of the language that we often find in the rules and we hope this will expedite the rules process this fall.

My next response about what’s next is to consider the opioid crisis in Illinois. The Department of Health and Family Services recently reported that, of the 2,278 Illinois statewide drug overdose deaths during 2016, over 80% (1,826) were opioid related fatalities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would lead us to believe that at least some of those could have been prevented, had nonopioid approaches for the long-term treatment of many pain conditions been better utilized. This brings us to APTA’s #ChoosePT campaign and our goal of eliminating barriers to accessing physical therapy first. 

#ChoosePT means making physical therapy the first choice of treatment for injury and chronic pain. Physical therapy is the safe, non-addictive alternative for managing pain. In order to make physical therapy accessible in Illinois, though, we need to advocate for:

1. Removing restriction in the Illinois PT Act that impedes access to a physical therapist.
2. Providing for fair physical therapy copays under insurance.
3. Allowing PTs to perform to the full extent of their education and training.
4. Protecting patient choice of their physical therapist.
5. Protecting truth in advertising by enforcement of laws that protect physical therapy terms.

These next three months will be important ones for the IPTA. We will be talking specifically about our new legislative goals at the October District meetings – it is important that you attend. Whatever we do legislatively impacts all licensed PTs and PTAs in Illinois, so please share this information with non-members that may be interested in removing barriers to accessing physical therapy in Illinois. Details are forthcoming.

- Mike Riley, PT IPTA President (2016 - 2018) Member since 1973

Several times during the last legislative session, the IPTA reached out to our members for support -- and members responded by contacting their legislators and filing electronic witness slips to help us get bipartisan support for SB 898. This grassroots support needs to continue in order for us to build upon that win and address other barriers to access this fall and next year.  Your membership and your proactive support are critical to our success moving forward. If you haven’t already done so, email ipta@ipta.org and become a key contact for your state senator and representative. As we meet with key bill sponsors and committee members to discuss our future goals, bipartisan support will be vital.  We know that our legislative efforts are most successful when they are reinforced by individual members of the IPTA that reach out to their legislators and explain why our goals will help the citizens in his/her community. I hope I can count on you to do just that. By doing so, you will help us shape the future of physical therapy in Illinois so that we can fulfill our mission of improving the health, wellness, and quality of life for the people in Illinois through physical therapy.

¹"The Opioid Crisis in Illinois: Data and the State's Response." DHS: The Opioid Crisis in Illinois: Data and the State's Response. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 July 2017.

²"Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 Mar. 2016. Web. 26 July 2017

Building Our Advocacy Network

Last year, over 100 members signed on as “Key Contacts” for legislators within their home district. Some of these individuals already had a personal relationship with their legislator OR were willing to establish a relationship.

Periodically, the IPTA would send out “In the KNOW” email blast to our key contacts with information about a critical state or federal issue with an ask that they send an email to their legislator about the IPTA's position or file an electronic witness slip in support or opposition to a bill being considered in a State Senate or House Committee.

The system works. Members responded to our calls to actions by contacting their legislators and filing witness slips on bills. Our Key Contacts helped us to strengthen the PT voice and influence in Springfield:  we were successful in ending the debate on dry needling, prevented the athletic trainers bill from going forward without modifications, and contributed to passage of an updated acupuncture act that included language that addressed overlap in scope of practice among health care providers.

This fall we need to keep this momentum going. We need to find time to connect with all General Assembly members in their home districts and start building important relationships that will help us tackle bigger direct access issues in the near future.

You can help!

As a busy professional, you may not have much time to devote to policy work. Fortunately, being a Key Contact needn’t be a burden. Essentially, we’re asking you to send an occasional message to your elected officials when prompted to by a grassroots alert from the IPTA. Your primary role is to ensure that state legislators in your district are aware of our perspective on key issues.

The most effective key contacts are those who lawmakers come to know and trust. If you are willing to do more than just send an email, you can work to establish a personal relationship with your legislators so that you become a credible and valuable resource on issues related to physical therapy. Meeting with legislators in their home districts or hosting them for a visit to your clinic or department are excellent ways to foster such a relationship and to educate these key policymakers. 

If you are interested in becoming an IPTA Key Contact for your legislative district, please email ipta@ipta.org.