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Federal Affairs Liaison Update

Posted by [email protected] on Jan. 25, 2019  /   0

Below is an update on the current situation regarding the PTA/TRICARE issue from Brent Todd PT,DPT,OCS,ATC, Federal Affairs Liaison.
On December 19, 2018, the Department of Defense (DoD) released a proposed rule to include physical therapist assistants (PTAs) as authorized providers under TRICARE, the health care system used throughout the military. The proposed rule seeks to have the TRICARE system adopt Medicare’s requirements for PTAs and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs). APTA actively advocated for the policy change and it’s now time for individuals to help APTA push the rule across the finish line. 
The 60 day comment period ends on February 19,2019. Thus, I would ask that you submit comments to the DOD via the APTA Advocacy page before that date. More specific instructions are provided on that page. This is a big step in this process as it "starts the clocks" to get the final rule out and then put into actual practice. For more information, visit the APTA Regulatory Issues site
We are getting closer, comments of support will help move this along. There are more boxes yet to check before this actually comes to practice:
 
Summer 2018
Proposed rule to implement the law is under coordination by Department of Defense (DoD)
Fall 2018
Proposed rule is released to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review
Dec. 20, 2018
Proposed rule is published in Federal Register for public comment (OCCURRED 12/19/18)
+ 60 days
Public comment period ends
+ 30-90 days
Draft of final rule is sent to DoD after Defense Health Agency addresses comments for potential revisions
+ 45-60 days
Final rule is cleared by DoD and White House staff and released to OMB for review
+90 days
Final rule is published in Federal Register
+30-90 days
(by 2021 per rulemaking requirements)
Implementation begins

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