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The Washington Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association

10/29/2026

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News On Friday, October 23, the Don Hatch Youth Center became a place to move, learn, and connect as community members of all ages gathered for the first Movement is Medicine event. Organized through a collaborative effort led by Tulalip Health System, the event encouraged t...

10/29/2026

CALL TO ACTION: WASHINGTON PTs, PTAs, STUDENTS & PATIENTS!

Help protect access to physical therapy care across Washington! Contact your state legislators about Premera’s Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR) policy, scheduled to take effect December 4, 2026.

Why does this matter?

The policy would reduce the practice expense component of additional therapy services by 50% when multiple services are billed for the same patient, provider, and date. Physical therapy clinic owners estimate this could result in an overall 15–20% reduction in payment per visit for many commonly billed services.

These changes could affect:

🔹 Patient access, appointment availability, and continuity of care
🔹 The sustainability of physical therapy practices
🔹 The future of our PT and PTA workforce
🔹 Access to rehabilitation services in our communities

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

APTA Washington’s Task Force has created an Advocacy Toolkit with everything you need to make your voice heard! To find it, go to to APTA Washington's Webpage, https://www.aptawa.org/payment-and-advocacy/payment-issues/

🔹 Select your section: Clinic Owners, PTs & PTAs, Students, or Patients.
🔹 “Email Your Legislator” will have two resources bulleted to access the step-by-step Email Legislator Guide and ready-to-use Legislator Email Template.
🔹 Contact your State Senator and two State Representatives. Personalize your message by sharing your experiences and concerns. If you verify your district, it will give the option to cc your other two state legislators.

There are more ways to help! Visit the toolkit to learn how to contact Premera and the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC).

Share this post with colleagues, classmates, patients, friends, and family. Every voice matters!

Together, let's make sure Washington's decision-makers hear from the people who provide, receive, and depend on physical therapy care.

10/28/2026

APTA Washington is proud to recognize GLP Attorneys for their partnership and support over the past four years.

You may have seen GLP Attorneys at APTA Washington conferences, where they have participated as both a sponsor and exhibitor supporting our physical therapy community.

Founded in 1986 by two college friends, GLP Attorneys has grown into Washington’s largest personal injury law firm. With a focus on compassionate, client-centered representation, the firm remains committed to serving injured individuals and supporting its communities.

We’re grateful to GLP Attorneys for their continued partnership and support of APTA Washington. Their involvement helps us advance the physical therapy profession and better serve our members. We look forward to continuing this partnership in the years ahead!

10/27/2026

APTA Washington Premera MPPR Policy Task Force Update.

Please share this message and tag the individuals, organizations, and decision-makers who have the ability to influence or change this decision. The more awareness we raise, the greater our opportunity to make a difference. Thank you for helping spread the word!

Please visit https://www.aptawa.org/payment-and-advocacy/payment-issues/ to find the toolkit with resources of information, and letter templates and how to guide to submit to Premera or the OIC.

10/26/2026

Happy PT Month focus on Acute Care Physical Therapy. Find more of these flyers in ChoosePT campaigns and PT for Future Me.

10/22/2026

Premera’s MPPR Policy Update: Premera's MPPR policy remains scheduled to take effect December 4, 2026, impacting reimbursement for PT services across Premera and LifeWise plans.

The APTA Washington Task Force continues its work asynchronously and through virtual meetings. APTA Washington is actively advocating with regulators, legislators, and national partners. Now, we need your participation!

🔹 Encourage patients to send letters to Premera.
🔹 Ask employers to contact Premera.
🔹 Submit complaints to Premera and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC).
🔹 Share and tag Premera and legislators on social media with your posts regarding the policy change.
🔹 Watch for the upcoming call to action to contact your legislators.

Continue to reinforce our shared goal of protecting patient access to high-quality care in every communication and advocacy effort. Every voice counts, and every action matters.

🔗 Find resources and templates on the APTA Washington Premera MPPR webpage. https://www.aptawa.org/payment-and-advocacy/payment-issues

Questions? Email [email protected].

10/15/2026

SAVE THE DATE | LEGISLATIVE IMPACT DAY 2027

📅 Thursday, January 28, 2027
📍 Back to the last Thursday of the month!
🍽️ Free lunch provided

Your voice matters. Your patients matter. Advocate for the PT Profession!

Join fellow PTs, PTAs, and students for Legislative Impact Day 2027! Connect with your legislators, share your perspective, and help shape the future of physical therapy in Washington.

🔹 Advocate for your patients. Help legislators understand the importance of access to physical therapy and the impact of their decisions on the communities we serve.

🔹 Make your voice heard. Legislators want to hear from their constituents. Your experiences and insights can help inform the decisions that affect our profession.

🔹 Build connections. Network with colleagues and students who share your commitment to physical therapy.

🔹 Advance our profession. Be part of building a strong, sustainable future for physical therapy and the patients who depend on it.

New to advocacy? No experience necessary! You don't need to be a policy expert to make a difference. Bring your passion for your patients and your profession—we'll make our voices stronger together.

Register today by scanning the QR code or using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePKRpxrP9lWgwrg_AWk4l_15OqedfLhGLnTIGZ5YfADn1Hrg/viewform?usp=header
Our profession. Our future. Our voices.

Save the date and register today! Let's come together, advocate for meaningful change, and help ensure a sustainable future for physical therapy in Washington.

10/14/2026

Some highlights from the Centennial Celebration! We will be posting more throughout the month! Thank you all who came to celebrate this milestone.

10/13/2026

SAVE THE DATE: FREE VIRTUAL CEU OPPORTUNITY!

Join the Pierce District on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, from 7:00–8:30 PM for an engaging continuing education course on Vestibular & Sensory Disorientation, featuring Karen Perz, MSPT, NCS, Certified Advanced Vestibular Physical Therapist.

🔹 Earn 1.5 CEU hours — FREE!

Learning Objectives:
🔹 Identify signs and symptoms of vestibular and sensory disorientation
🔹 Identify appropriate assessment techniques
🔹 Explore strategies and treatment tools to support patient care

Event Details:
🔹 Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
🔹 Time: 7:00–8:30 PM
🔹 Location: Virtual via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87416937859?pwd=kvObEKSZFOpGxsXFLfa7HmOqVdbvnk.1
🔹 Meeting ID: 874 1693 7859
🔹 Passcode: 702803

This course is open to APTA Washington PTs, PTAs, and students interested in vestibular rehabilitation, sensory processing, balance, and disorientation.

Learn. Connect. Earn CEUs. We hope you’ll join us!

10/12/2026

Meet Your Mentor — OCTOBER Open Mentorship Office Hours

Join us for Open Mentorship Hours this Wednesday with Kara Stadshaug, PT, DPT, CLT, PHC, a physical therapist with a passion for improving care for individuals experiencing lymphatic dysfunction and those navigating cancer rehabilitation.

Kara has been practicing at Kitsap Physical Therapy since 2013 and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and expertise through community connections. You may recognize her, she was APTA WA's April Mentor. Her professional interests include advancing care for abdominal and pelvic health conditions, addressing gaps in treatment options and education for lymphatic dysfunction and swelling-related conditions, and providing supportive, restorative, and palliative care for patients diagnosed with cancer.

With her clinical experience and broad interests across rehabilitation, Kara brings a unique perspective on helping patients navigate the continuum of care — from illness to wellness to fitness.

During mentorship hours, Kara will discuss: • Orthopedic skill sets relevant to breast cancer rehabilitation • Truncal lymphatic compression and collaboration with a certified mastectomy fitter • Supporting the continuum of care from illness → wellness → fitness • Q&A

Kara is passionate about connecting with her community, sharing knowledge, and helping revolutionize the care available to individuals with abdominal and pelvic health concerns, lymphatic dysfunction, and cancer-related needs.

Despite Idaho being IdaHOME, Kara moved to Washington to pursue her college education and quickly caught the Pacific Northwest blue-and-green fever. Outside of work, she enjoys CrossFit, reading, playing cribbage with her husband, and cooking with her kids.

Kara brings a unique perspective grounded in clinical practice, community connection, and a commitment to supporting patients throughout their rehabilitation journey. Join us for an engaging conversation, practical insights, and an opportunity to ask questions and learn from her experience in breast cancer rehabilitation.

Wednesday, October 14 • 7:00–8:00 PM (PT)
Zoom (link in bio)
Meeting ID: 863 8346 1312
Passcode: 035296

Address

208 Rogers Street NW
Olympia, WA
98502

Telephone

+13603527290

Website

http://www.aptawa.org/

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