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Andrew M. Ball, MS, PT -> Legislative Threat in North Carolina (June 7, 2000 5:35:00 AM)
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Being a physical therapy professional includes much more than just clinical skills. Political action is more important now than ever before. Per the E-mail requests of several RehabEdge.com members, I am posting a copy my letter used for my most recent legislative effort.
Dear Honorable Congressmen and Congresswomen:
Please voice your opposition to HB 1827 to members of the North Carolina House Education Committee and to your fellow colleagues.
HB 1827 "Increase" School Therapist Pay was introduced by Representative Jeffus (Greensboro) with the support of the NC Association of Educators (NCAE).
Despite the original intent of improving the salaries of physical therapists working for the school system in the Greensboro area, the bill would actually be counterproductive to that goal for the following reason:
The bill would result in moving school physical therapists from the state pay scale to the teacher pay scale. Contrary to the message inferred in the title, the language of the bill would actually decrease the salary range of most school therapists and lower the maximum salary. The teacher pay scale is actually approximately $10,000 less than that of the state pay scale. This creates a serious problem for school systems trying to recruit and retain competent pediatric physical therapists into an area of
practice that has traditionally been under served . . . children with special needs.
In addition, the bill has the potential to invite the regulation of physical therapists by non-physical therapists/special educators, and their respective self interests. To date, the legislature has resisted efforts to allow the regulation and practice restriction of one health care discipline over another (e.g. physicians over chiropractors, chiropractors over PT manipulation practices, etc.), and promoted a policy of self governance and self regulation. This policy should continue.
It is no surprise as to why the NCAE [North Carolina Association of Educators] is for the passage of this bill. It would surely expand their already powerful bargaining force by increasing its funds through the collection of physical therapist's dues, and further expanding its scope of operations to include physical therapists as a "bargaining chip" during negotiations for teacher pay. The health of children with special needs must not be allowed to be held hostage in such a situation.
School physical therapists, DEC therapists*, and therapists working for Early Intervention Programs across the state are opposed to this bill and are asking for your support and help. Please contact members of the House Education Committee and express your opposition.
Respectfully Submitted,
Andrew M. Ball, MS, MBA, PT
(Ph.D. Candidate of Healthcare Management)
*[DEC therapists are therapists who work for the state government and whose charge is to conduct or oversee the evaluation and service provision of children 0-5 suspected of having special needs. Unlike other states therefore, the goal is to minimize the potential conflict of interests that occurs when the eligibility determining therapist is also the therapist who eventually provides treatment (and receives reimbursement)]
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