What’s in the proposed 2026 Physician Fee Schedule and why should physical therapists care?

In this video, Bob Hall breaks down five key issues in the CMS proposed rule, including:

- Physician referrals as plan of care certification

- Site-of-service payment differences

- Permanent virtual direct supervision (telehealth)

- Conversion factor updates

- Revisions to practice expense methodology

These changes could significantly reduce administrative burden, improve access to care, especially in rural areas, and reshape how PT services are paid. Learn how these proposals affect you and how you can advocate for finalizing the policies that support our profession and patients.

Target Audience:

Physical therapists (especially in private practice or rural settings), PTAs and clinic managers, Healthcare administrators in outpatient and hospital settings, APTA members interested in advocacy and Medicare policy, Students preparing for a career in physical therapy

In the fourth episode of Did You Know?, part of the APTA Orthopedics Podcasts, hosts Jill Thein-Nissenbaum and Lori Thein Brody chat with Susan Appling about the power of professional involvement in physical therapy.

Susan reflects on her leadership journey, offers advice for getting started, and shares how participating in advocacy and organizational service can inspire growth—not just for the profession, but for the individual clinician.

Whether you’re early in your career or looking to give back, this conversation explores how volunteering and stepping into leadership roles can transform your perspective, expand your impact, and shape the future of physical therapy.

Target Audience:

Physical therapists at all career stages, PTs interested in leadership, advocacy, and service, DPT students, and early professionals exploring professional engagement

Dr. Norman Johnson, recipient of the 2024 APTA Orthopedics Innovative Practice Award, presents his groundbreaking approach to fall risk screening through the development of a functional and multidirectional reach assessment device. In this presentation, Dr. Johnson walks through the history of reach testing, its clinical limitations, and how his device provides a dynamic, reproducible, and inclusive way to assess and treat patients of all ages—especially older adults and veterans.

This presentation is part of our Innovative Practice Award series, highlighting creative and practical ideas that are moving orthopedic physical therapy forward.

View All Innovative Award Recipients: https://www.orthopt.org/content/s/innovative-practice-award-winners

Target Audience:

Physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, PT students, clinicians working in geriatrics, home health PTs, VA/military rehab professionals, outpatient rehab clinicians

Greetings, aspiring orthopedic clinical specialists! In this case scenario, Paul-Neil Czujko walks you through a complex cervical spine presentation involving a 50-year-old male with insidious neck pain, radiating symptoms, and new onset red flags following cervical manipulation. You'll explore clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis, key examination findings, and evidence-based intervention strategies. Learn how to confidently navigate neck pain presentations and sharpen your OCS prep with this detailed analysis rooted in clinical practice guidelines.

Check out all the OCS prep case scenarios: https://www.orthopt.org/content/resources/prepping-for-the-ocs-exam/ocs-prep-case-scenarios

Read the full cervical spine case scenario: https://www.orthopt.org/content/resources/prepping-for-the-ocs-exam/ocs-prep-case-scenarios/cervical-spine2

Target Audience (with commas):

physical therapists, PT students, orthopedic residents, OCS candidates, orthopedic physical therapy educators, clinicians preparing for the OCS exam, evidence-based practitioners

Greetings, aspiring orthopedic clinical specialists! In this lumbar spine case scenario, Paul-Neil Czujko walks through the evaluation of a 32-year-old female presenting with insidious low back pain, radicular symptoms, and functional limitations. Follow along as he explores differential diagnosis, identifies clinical patterns, and discusses evidence-based management aligned with clinical practice guidelines. This scenario is ideal for sharpening your lumbar spine reasoning and preparing for the OCS exam.

Check out all the OCS prep case scenarios: https://www.orthopt.org/content/resources/prepping-for-the-ocs-exam/ocs-prep-case-scenarios

Read the full cervical spine case scenario: https://www.orthopt.org/content/resources/prepping-for-the-ocs-exam/ocs-prep-case-scenarios/cervical-spine2

Target Audience:

physical therapists, PT students, orthopedic residents, OCS candidates, orthopedic physical therapy educators, clinicians preparing for the OCS exam

Big News in Physical Therapy Advocacy!

After nearly a decade of persistent advocacy, Aetna has dropped its outdated referral requirement, paving the way for greater direct access to physical therapy for over 36 million people. In this video, Bob Hall breaks down what this major win means for patients, providers, and the future of access to care. This win is a clear sign that persistence in advocacy pays off.

Target Audience:

Physical Therapists (PTs & PTAs), DPT students and new grads, Healthcare policy advocates, APTA members, Private practice owners and outpatient clinicians, Medicare/insurance navigators in healthcare settings

In this episode of APTA Orthopedics Podcasts, host Dhinu J. Jayaseelan is joined by John Heick to explore the evolving role of physical therapists in the primary care setting. They unpack the differences between direct access and primary care PT, discuss the historical roots of the model in military and emergency care, and examine the clinical and policy shifts that are shaping the future of musculoskeletal care. Dr. Heick shares insights from his career in orthopedics, neuro, sports, and academia, emphasizing mentorship, residency, and technology as key drivers in preparing PTs for expanded roles. Whether you're in a rural clinic, urban outpatient setting, or seeking to broaden your scope, this conversation sheds light on why primary care PT is gaining momentum—and how PTs can lead in filling critical healthcare gaps.

Target Audience:

Physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, students, educators, clinical specialists, residency directors, policy advocates

Watch the presentation on APTA Orthopedics YouTube!

Performing arts students face unique physical and sensory demands that are not adequately addressed in traditional concussion recovery protocols. In one of our innovative practice award winners presentation, Kristen Schuyten, Paola Savvidou, and Allyssa Memmini share their innovative development of the Progressive Return-to-Performance Protocol. This interdisciplinary effort fills a critical void in post-concussion management for dancers, musicians, and theater students at the university level. The presentation explores mechanisms of injury in the performing arts, limitations of current return-to-learn and return-to-sport models, and the Delphi-based development of a stage-based protocol tailored to the performing arts. Learn how this framework supports collaboration between medical and academic teams and explore next steps for implementation in clinical and educational settings.

Learn more about this award-winning concussion protocol: https://www.orthopt.org/content/s/innovative-practice-award-winners

Target Audience:

Orthopaedic physical therapists, sports physical therapists, athletic trainers, academic faculty, student health providers, neuro PTs, clinicians treating concussion, performing arts medicine specialists, university healthcare professionals

In the third episode of Did You Know?, part of the APTA Orthopedics Podcasts, hosts Jill Thein-Nissenbaum and Lori Thein Brody chat with Francois Desmeules and Lori Michener about the brand new 2025 Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for rotator cuff tendinopathy.

They explore what’s changed since the 2022 CPG, why a new version was needed so soon, and how international collaboration helped shape more patient-centered, evidence-informed recommendations.

From updated grading scales to return-to-sport criteria and patient-reported outcome measures, this episode helps you apply the new CPG to make more confident, effective decisions in shoulder rehab.

Perfect for practicing physical therapists looking to stay current and optimize outcomes.

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy Diagnosis, Nonsurgical Medical Care, and Rehabilitation: A Clinical Practice Guideline: https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2025.13182



Target Audience:

orthopedic physical therapists, physical therapy students, clinical educators, sports PTs, musculoskeletal clinicians, researchers in PT, PT faculty, international PT professionals

In this episode of APTA Orthopedics Podcasts, host James Spencer is joined by Dr. Janey Prodoehl, PT, PhD, CCTT, recipient of the 2024 Innovative Practice Award, for an insightful conversation on advancing physical therapy care for individuals with Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD). Dr. Prodoehl shares evidence-based strategies from her work developing a national clinical practice guideline, including how to simplify TMD screening and treatment, build interdisciplinary referral networks, and demystify care for both PTs and patients. She also highlights opportunities for outreach to dental and primary care providers and emphasizes empowering physical therapists with practical tools—not fear.

Target Audience:

Orthopedic Physical Therapists, PTs with an interest in TMD, TMJ, or craniofacial care, Early-career PTs, DPT students, Clinic Owners/Managers, Dentists and Dental Specialists, Primary Care Physicians, Healthcare Administrators, Pain Researchers, Academics.