Episode Summary:

In the latest episode of Future Proof PT, hosts Dana Strauss and Alex Bendersky, along with special guest Jerry Durham, tackle the critical crossroads facing physical therapy as a profession. They challenge listeners to question whether they're functioning as true healthcare professionals or merely "operators" in a broken system.

The trio discusses how healthcare is rapidly transforming around us, including recent proposed policy changes in the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule that could significantly impact physical therapists. While time-based providers like primary care physicians are seeing increases of 5-9%, independent PTs face a -1% adjustment. The trio make the case that this should be a wake-up call for the profession.

Key topics covered include:

• The value of hands-on patient relationships in an AI-driven healthcare landscape
• Why team-based care is essential for survival in evolving payment models
• The importance of understanding the broader healthcare ecosystem beyond PT
• Strategies for demonstrating value to referring physicians and payers
• Embracing the shift to outpatient and in-home care

This conversation serves as both a warning and a call to action for physical therapists to "look up" from their treatment tables, redefine their professional identity, and secure their place in the healthcare of tomorrow.

Whether you're a clinic owner, practicing PT, or student, or in a non-clinical role, this episode delivers uncomfortable truths alongside actionable insights that could transform your approach to practice. You won’t want to miss it.

Link to the episode transcript here.

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