Practice & Advocacy

Gain valuable insights, resources, and strategies to strengthen your professional journey and equip yourself with knowledge and tools to help advocate for the advancement of the pelvic health physical therapy profession! Stay informed on the latest legislative issues that impact Physical Therapists (PTs), Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs), Physical Therapy Students (SPTs), and the patients and clients we serve on a state and federal level.

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Contribute to our Practice & Advocacy Series! Are you an Academy member who has legislative and advocacy experience as it relates to pelvic and abdominal health physical therapy? Our members would love to hear from you! Consider contributing an educational blog post about your experiences at APTA Capitol Hill Day or at your local state level legislative events.

General Blog Submission Form

Visit our Advocacy Hub for H.R.2480!

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Contact Your State Rep

Take 2 minutes to call or e-mail your Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Find Your Rep!

Share Your Story

Your personal story and passionate advocacy can sway their support and drive action. Tell us about your journey!

Raise Public Awareness

View all the ways you can take action below and be sure to use our FREE comprehensive social media kit!

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A Large Need for Women’s Health Physical Therapists in Rural America
A Large Need for Women’s Health Physical Therapists in Rural America

My entire childhood, I dreamed of becoming a Veterinarian. I was a very good student in high school, and graduated Valedictorian of my small class. I then attended a prestigious liberal arts college for undergraduate... Continue Reading

Date posted11/19/2017


2016 State Policy & Payment Forum Sets Stage for 2017 Advocacy
2016 State Policy & Payment Forum Sets Stage for 2017 Advocacy

The 2016 State Policy & Payment Forum was held September 17-18, 2016, at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA. The State Policy & Payment Forum increases attendees’ knowledge of state legislative issues that impact physical therapy practice and payment, as well as improve individual advocac Continue Reading

Postedby Gail Heather Zitterkopf
Date posted07/26/2017


Giving Voices to Our Women Health Patients: Highlights from the APTA Federal Advocacy Forum
Giving Voices to Our Women Health Patients: Highlights from the APTA Federal Advocacy Forum

First, I want to give a huge shout-out to the Section on Women’s Health for sponsoring me to attend my first American Physical Therapy Association Federal Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C., March 26-28, 2017. Continue Reading

Postedby April Ritz
Date posted04/7/2017


Speak Out on Proposed Orthotics and Prosthetics Rule: Here’s How!
Speak Out on Proposed Orthotics and Prosthetics Rule: Here’s How!

A proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is drawing criticism from physical therapists (PTs) over additional requirements that PTs would need to meet to qualify as providers of custom orthoses and prostheses—and the Section on Women’s Health is making it easy for mem Continue Reading

Postedby Gail Heather Zitterkopf
Date posted03/2/2017


Ready or Not Here They Come! Prepping the Women’s Health PT for the New Evaluation Codes
Ready or Not Here They Come! Prepping the Women’s Health PT for the New Evaluation Codes

As women’s health physical therapists, changes in health care policy always evoke the question, “But how does this apply to MY patients?” We often march to our own drum in terms of treatments and types of patients seen. This is no different for the new evaluation codes that started January 1, 2017. Continue Reading

Postedby Kelly Huestis
Date posted01/7/2017


Student Flash Action Strategy Focuses on PT-PAC
Student Flash Action Strategy Focuses on PT-PAC

Each year the American Physical Therapy Association selects an item for the student flash action strategy (FAS). In 2016 this initiative was used as an opportunity to education students on the activities and goals of the Physical Therapy Political Action Committee (PT-PAC) and the importance of fund Continue Reading

Postedby Gail Heather Zitterkopf
Date posted01/1/2017


Getting Paid: What’s on the Horizon for 2017
Getting Paid: What’s on the Horizon for 2017

As Section on Women’s Health Reimbursement Committee chair, I am fortunate to attend the APTA State Policy and Payment Forum annually. For therapists of women’s and men’s health, let’s be honest–payment can be one of the most aggravating and unfamiliar aspects of our job. Indeed, this forum changes Continue Reading

Postedby Kelly Huestis
Date posted10/28/2016


Ringing in 2017 with New Physical Therapy Evaluation and Re-Evaluation Codes
Ringing in 2017 with New Physical Therapy Evaluation and Re-Evaluation Codes

Starting January 1, 2017, physical therapists will have three new evaluation codes and one new re-evaluation code. The new evaluation codes will replace the 97001, PT initial evaluation, and 97002, PT reevaluation codes. Continue Reading

Postedby Kathryn Mary Pring
Date posted10/22/2016


Building Awareness of Women’s & Men’s Physical Therapy: A Call for Outreach During National PT Month
Building Awareness of Women’s & Men’s Physical Therapy: A Call for Outreach During National PT Month

I recently co-presented a half-day workshop at the 37th annual American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) Week event in Denver, Colorado. Although AUGS PFD Week programming has traditionally been geared toward researchers and physicians, recent years have seen increased in Continue Reading

Postedby Alexandra Hill
Date posted10/8/2016


Reimbursement Q&A: ICD-10 Pregnancy
Reimbursement Q&A: ICD-10 Pregnancy

I work with several pregnant patients for sciatica, low back pain, and pelvic pain. Do I need to code for the patient being pregnant and then code for the pain and functional problems or just the pain and functional problems? Continue Reading

Postedby Kelly Huestis
Date posted08/30/2016


Goodbye, 97001 & 97002
Goodbye, 97001 & 97002

As you may have heard, Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) is changing how we code for physical therapy evaluations in 2017. There will be three new evaluation codes– 97X61, 97X62, and 97X63–that will replace 97001, and one new re-evaluation code, 97X64, that will replace 97002. Continue Reading

Date posted07/26/2016


Reimbursement Q&A: Billing for Electrodes
Reimbursement Q&A: Billing for Electrodes

Question:  Our physical therapists do internal vaginal biofeedback and/or electrical stimulation. The electrode probes we use are $40 each, and we want to ensure we are using the most appropriate CPT codes to charge for this intervention. Do you have any advice for us? “90911” seems like an... Continue Reading

Postedby Kelly Huestis
Date posted06/28/2016