And, APTA MN members, I have some good news! For the first time in this decade (and longer, so I am told) the PT Practice Act modifications bill has successfully passed committees in not just ONE but BOTH bodies of the Minnesota Legislature. But that’s not all we worked on this week: we had a couple of surprises to manage, but that’s what happens when the legislature is in session. Here’s what we did:  

• Had hearings in both the House and Senate on the PT Practice Act Update bill (HF 2689 and SF 3049 – bills are linked if you want to take a look).
  • HF 2689 passed the House out of the House Health Committee and moved it to the next committee stop, the House Judiciary Committee. We convened immediately after committee to discuss an action plan to get the bill a hearing before deadline.
    • A couple of thoughts from the hearing: we were well prepared for opposition to removal of the 90-day referral requirement and the definition of diagnosis (Holly did a great job here). There were a couple of legislators who spoke out with concern about removing the year wait for direct referral for recent DPT licensees. Overall, member comments were limited but supportive.
  • SF 3049 was held over by the Senate HHS Committee and will be considered for a larger package of bills called an omnibus bill.
    • A couple of thoughts from the hearing: we were well prepared for opposition to removal of the 90-day referral and lined up Sen. Kupec, a senator who represents Moorhead, to speak in favor of direct access. He lives near the North Dakota border and goes to North Dakota for his PT and had no idea there was an issue with having to seek a referral until we met with him. Chair Wiklund was also very supportive of removing the 90-day referral.
  • VIDEO OF THE HEARINGS: The House hearing will be available online here under House Health Committee. The Senate hearing is available here.
• We successfully negotiated language added to the Acupuncture Scope of Practice bill (within 3 days of the hearing) to ensure that PTs would not be prohibited from continuing to practice dry needling. I will say that getting new language added to a different scope of practice bill at the 11^th hour is almost always never successful, but through persistence it got done.
• We successfully kept a surprise amendment off our senate bill that would have written in language that would have prohibited PTs from taking continuing education courses (that would have been an unintended consequence of the language, not the intent). We were informed in the hearing room that a senator wanted to offer an amendment and worked out in the hall to point out how this would harm our practice and in the long run patients using statute. It was quite an exercise in quick thinking while keeping an ear to the committee!
• And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the SGA Team were able to help prepare our fantastic testifiers, Holly Clynch, Steve Burnap, and Forrest Andres-Beck, testify (for their first times) in support of our PT Practice Act. Thank you, Holly, Steve, and Forrest!
• And (part two) a huge thank you to our chief authors, Rep. Liz Reyer and Sen. Liz Boldon, who delivered great opening comments in support of physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and physical therapy students. They are truly our champions.

There is still work to be done, but today we got closer to passing the PT Practice Act Update bill than we have in years. Reminder: the last hearing on the bill was in 2020 (before the COVID-19 Pandemic changed the Legislature that session!). And we had a couple of other victories along the way. We should all be very proud of the progress we made. Most bills do not get hearings during the legislative session, and ours got heard in both the House and Senate! Congratulations!

Click here to participate

Click here for video

In addition to mourning this tragedy, we must also acknowledge growing concerns regarding recent human rights violations in our state. Such incidents can deeply erode trust among individuals of diverse groups and immigration statuses, making it more difficult for them to feel safe and supported when seeking health services—especially during times of crisis. It is crucial for our therapy and broader community to foster an environment of respect and inclusivity, ensuring that everyone feels valued and protected as they access care.

We honor the lives lost and support de-escalation and accountability for the actions that have occurred over the past few weeks.  The APTA MN is committed to standing alongside our neighbors, patients, and families in working together, hand in hand toward a safer and healthier Minnesota.  

We continue to monitor the safety of our members as we plan and hold upcoming events in the Minneapolis St. Paul area.  We support all who may not feel safe to attend these events.  Please notify us and we will make accommodations to ensure you can participate in a virtual or recorded manner to the best of our ability.

What does APTA and APTA Private Practice joining the MultiPlan Antitrust Litigation mean for members?

• APTA is participating in the lawsuit as an organizational plaintiff, seeking an injunction to stop the alleged anticompetitive scheme. This action does not make individual APTA members parties to the lawsuit.
• Individual practices may be entitled to significant financial damages against MultiPlan and other insurance companies.
• Affected members will have the opportunity for the same law firms representing APTA to bring individual claims for financial damages due to the repricing.
• For individual APTA members who engage one of the law firms representing APTA in this litigation, representation would be on a contingency basis at a reduced rate.
• Claims against MultiPlan over out-of-network reimbursements may go back 10 years. Many practices that have been out-of-network with one major insurer during the relevant time period will have compensable claims.
• An informational webinar discussing opportunities for therapists to sue on an individual basis will be held with lawyers appointed in the litigation for individual, direct action plaintiffs. Sign up to be notified when the webinar date, time, and registration are live to learn more.
  

If you have questions, please contact advocacy@apta.org.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) House of Delegates (HOD) is the Association’s
principal policy-making body. Delegates from chapters, sections, academies, and councils gather
annually to deliberate and vote on motions that direct APTA’s vision, values, and professional
priorities. Once adopted, these decisions guide the APTA Board of Directors and staff as they
implement strategies, develop resources, and influence external policy to advance the physical
therapy profession.

In July 2025, the HOD reviewed 41 motions on topics spanning ethics, scope of practice,
governance, education, payment, and workforce sustainability. One major outcome was the
unification of the PT and PTA Codes of Ethics into a single document (RC01-25), reaffirming
shared professional values. The House also supported language recognizing the role of physical
therapists in behavioral and mental health care (RC09-25), and approved a critical amendment
to allow physical therapists to order and interpret laboratory tests (RC30-25), confirming that
these services fall within the professional scope of practice for physical therapists. This positions
PTs to expedite care through better collaboration and timely access to necessary diagnostics in
appropriate contexts.

Other highlights included the adoption of a new Primary Care Physical Therapy specialization
(RC17-25) and motions reinforcing APTA’s advocacy for improved payment structures (RC40-25).
Some proposals—such as granting student voting rights (RC02-25) and integrating telehealth
education into DPT curricula (RC12-25)—were defeated, though the dialogue reflected evolving
perspectives across the profession. Through robust debate and collaboration, the HOD
continues to shape the profession’s direction, operationalized by APTA leadership and staff in
service to members and the communities they serve.

For those interested in exploring the work of the House in greater depth, the Motion Summary
Table provides the status of each motion, while the Motion Binder offers detailed descriptions
of all motions brought forward for consideration.

September 6, 2025

TRIA Conference Center, Bloomington, MN
Registration open at www.curiosityconference.net  

Locum tenens, meaning "to hold the place of or substitute," allows eligible providers to bring in a qualified replacement during a temporary absence for illness, pregnancy, vacation, or continuing education. Currently, locum tenens for physical therapists is allowed only in federally designated rural and underserved areas. This limitation prohibits many PTs in outpatient practice from taking needed leave without continuity of care for their patients. APTA successfully enacted the initial locum tenens law for rural and underserved areas in 2016 as part of the 21st Century Cures Act; H.R. 1517 would expand the ability to use locum tenens nationwide.

Expanding locum tenens under Medicare for physical therapists to all areas will ensure uninterrupted patient care and prevent regression while allowing physical therapists flexibility.  The legislation was introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (D-FL) and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY).

Read more about this and other bills APTA is supporting by clicking here. (Members Only)

·      https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kari-john-and-jonah-rebuild-after-fire

·      https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-emily-and-josh-rebuild-after-the-eaton-fire

·      https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ryan-and-jasmine-rebuild-after-fire

·      https://gofund.me/7e9c1f82

·      https://www.gofundme.com/f/roses-family-needs-help-fire-recovery

·      https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-cynthia-rebuild-after-palisades-wildfires?qid=9d9f722274b534a9ff4bce5646d05235

·      https://www.gofundme.com/f/jasmine-and-family-need-your-help

·      https://www.gofundme.com/f/palisades-fire-relief-for-kelsey-and-marcus

·      https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-daniel-paula-rebuild-after-fire

·      https://gofund.me/fb1f37e5

·      https://gofund.me/c56cc202

·      https://gofund.me/d53523bd

·      https://gofund.me/1b36efe7

·      https://gofund.me/54246612

·      https://gofund.me/c5f62095

Click here to access your ballot.

Take advantage of this free CE opportunity and a chance to work with runners in an actual race setting!

Join experienced instructors Jeremy Tan, PT, DPT, OCS & Kelly Roberts Lane DPT, FACSM to learn practical ways to evaluate and treat this population, including video analysis demonstration. You'll also focus on acute injury management for runners.  Finally, we'll discuss how to provide pre-race and post-race services for participants in the APTA MN "Move & Groove" 5k.



We have a limited opportunity for up to 12 PTs and PTAs looking to up their game.  In exchange for volunteering to work with runners at the APTA MN 5K before and after the race, you can attend this Running CE Course for FREE! APTA MN will also provide you with a complimentary race registration for the event.  APTA MN will distribute certificates of completion for the CE after the run on Sunday.



Details:

Saturday, September 14th 9:00am -12:00 pm
TRIA Woodbury - 155 Radio Dr, Woodbury, MN 55125
2nd Floor Gym 

Sunday, September 15th
7:30 am Check in/Booth set up
8:00 am Work with runners
9:00 am Road Race (you can run for free!)
9:30 - 11:00 am Post race evaluation of runners

If you are interested, please apply for one of the twelve spots available by emailing us at info@mnapta.org.

The Marquette Challenge is a student-led fundraising effort to advance the Foundation’s mission to fund research and develop researchers to optimize movement and improve the health of society. Over the years, student’s support through the annual Challenge has helped the Foundation fund more than 700 researchers nationwide.

The top fundraising school earns co-naming rights for the next Marquette Challenge and will receive the Marquette Challenge traveling cup, a trophy inscribed with the names of the schools that have taken top honors since the Marquette Challenge began in 1989.

The top fundraising schools for 2023-2024 include:
 1st place: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
 2nd place: The University of Delaware
 3rd place: The University of Miami

The Foundation congratulates VCU for earning the right to co-host the upcoming 2025 VCU- Marquette Challenge. While we encourage friendly competition between schools, participation in the Challenge at any level is what matters most.

Many schools were awarded a variety of additional awards based on the amount of money raised. You can see a list of the schools that earned these distinguishments on our website. Please join us in congratulating each of these schools for their hard work this year.

Funds raised through the Challenge support the Foundation in awarding grants and scholarships annually. These funds help us invest in physical therapy research to demonstrate the value of physical therapy and foster the development of physical therapy researchers dedicated to driving innovation.

After a rigorous peer review process, we are pleased to share this year’s Promotion of Doctoral Studies’ VCU-Marquette Award recipient, Elizabeth Maus, DPT, of The Ohio State University. Elizabeth’s proposed research is titled, Advancing the Role of Pediatric Physical Therapists in Supporting Motor Development after gene Therapy for Aromatic L-Amino Decarboxylase Deficiency.

We can’t wait to see all of you supporting the 2025 VCU-Marquette Challenge. Faculty and students in the state of Minnesota are encouraged to visit the Marquette Challenge website at marquettechallenge.com to learn how they can support the Foundation and physical therapy research through the 2025 VCU Marquette Challenge. Thank you!

About the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research was established in 1979 as the only national, independent nonprofit organization solely dedicated to funding physical therapy research. The Foundation is the research funding organization for APTA. Since its inception, FPTR has awarded more than $23 million in research grants, fellowships, and scholarships to more than 700 promising researchers. Many of today’s leading physical therapy researchers, clinicians, and academicians began their careers with this support. Foundation-funded researchers have gone on to secure more than $930 million in follow-on funding.
www.foundation4pt.org/donate

Ted with his wife Deb

APTA MN would like to recognize long term member Ted Boal of Maple Grove!

Ted has been a Physical Therapist for over 40 years, working for Adara Home Care for 5 years, Minnesota Veterans Home for 15 years, Courage Center for 5 years, and Rehab Services for 12 yrs. He was Credentialed as a Clinic Site Supervisor and worked with numerous PT and PTA students throughout his career. He received an award from the University of MN PT Program as Clinical Supervisor of the Year. Ted has also been a member of the APTA MN Chapter for many years where his most significant contribution among many was serving as Editor of Soundwaves, our old APTA MN Newsletter.   

Ted has had a very positive influence on many people associated with APTA MN. Judy Hawley stated that as Editor of Soundwaves, he took pride in his editing job, took it very seriously, and was “ALWAYS A PERFECTIONIST”.  Leslie Gentner was in charge of the Conference Planning Committee and worked with Ted promoting the Conference in Soundwaves. He ran Soundwaves on a precise timeline, but always with kind and humorous nudges to get submissions to him. Leslie went on to say that Ted is a person of deep spiritual faith, knowledgeable and humble. She considers him a valued colleague to this day. 

Linda Gustafson worked with Ted in Long Term and Transitional Care. Observing and learning from Ted provided a wonderful foundation as she began what would be 10 plus years of service in LTC. Ted’s connections with patients, families and staff were respectful, tailored to the individual, positive, skilled and truly made a difference. As her supervisor, Ted provided Linda with support, encouragement and a listening ear. He established clear expectations and standards for provision of skilled services and person-centered care and ongoing professional growth, expanding professional skills and knowledge.

Karen Lamecker commented on Ted’s skills as a Clinical Instructor. She was able to observe him both challenge and support PT and PTA students. Rather than supplying quick answers to questions, he would guide the student in finding the answer. She believed this gave students the confidence to venture effectively into the professional world.

Ann Ryan also commented on some of Ted’s characteristics. Shortly after 9/11, when tensions were very high against Muslims, Ted was working home care and had several patients in the Somali community. He shared how grief stricken they were about their young men being drawn into the terrorist movements. She was impressed by how he was so present with the Somali mothers who shared their deep feelings, and how quickly Ted’s response was to look for solutions for the next generation.

APTA MN would like to congratulate and thank Ted for his lifelong contribution to the Physical Therapy profession and for his dedicated service to our Minnesota Chapter.

More than two dozen APTA MN members joined hundreds of PTs, PTAs, and students from around the country in Kansas City for the 2024 APTA Leadership Congress. 

Highlighting Saturday's program was the first-ever APTA Women's Leadership Summit.  An All-Star lineup, featuring accomplished women from across the country, engaged a sold-out audience with insight from keynote speakers and professional leaders on topics ranging from building a strategic network to breaking down barriers to make a difference in the health of society.

APTA had a large group visit the world's first women's professional sports venue, CPKC Stadium, for a match between the KC Current and the Houston Dash on Saturday night - it was truly iconic! 

The APTA's House of Delegates kicked off Sunday morning.  As always, the House debate was spirited and is the ultimate democratic exercise.  Later in the day, attendees heard from our 29th annual Maley Lecture, Phil McClure, PT, PhD, FAPTA.

The House finished up its work on Monday before a PT PAC event at The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame & "The College Basketball Experience."  In addition to supporting our federal PAC, members from around the country joined in some friendly competition with three-point shooting, free throws, and even 3 v 3 games.

The weekend's final event was the 2024 APTA State Payment Advocacy Forum. APTA advocates & component leaders from across the country were in Kansas City to share strategies & legislative solutions to address PT payment & admin burden at the state level.

All in all, a powerful gathering of physical therapy professionals and students, charting the future of a tremendous profession.  

The passage of this bill marks our first significant step on this journey. In the most optimistic scenario, the state of Minnesota could start issuing privileges by mid to late 2025. This timeline accounts for the necessary time to establish the administrative framework and safeguards required to protect patients.

However, we encountered a bump in the road of this process. Language added in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee differed from the model PT Compact bill, leading the PT Compact Commission to withhold acceptance of Minnesota as a member at this time.

We are actively advocating for the necessary changes to allow Minnesota to join the PT Compact. We have met with representatives from the Compact and will urge them to reconsider their decision, providing evidence to support our case. Additionally, we will engage with advocates from the trial lawyers association to explore other ways to address their concerns.

As I'm sure you can appreciate, the legislative process is often a long and winding road. While we should take pride in this significant legislative victory, we have some unexpected work ahead. The future of physical therapy and the care of our patients deserve our unwavering commitment and best efforts. We remain optimistic and I'll keep you posted along the way! 

Sincerely, 
Megan Urick 
APTA MN Chapter President 

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL LEGISLATIVE UPDATES