APTA Responds to PHTI Report on Virtual Musculoskeletal Solutions
Alexandria, VA (June 5, 2024) – The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) today released a statement in response to the Peterson Health Technology Institute’s (PHTI) recent Health Technology Assessment on virtual musculoskeletal solutions. The PHTI report examined the use of digital health technologies, specifically for physical therapy in treating and managing musculoskeletal conditions like chronic low back pain.
APTA President Roger Herr, PT, MPA, praised the PHTI report:
“The American Physical Therapy Association commends PHTI’s work and its focus on virtual musculoskeletal solutions…”
APTA believes the report is a critical contribution to ongoing healthcare reform efforts. The association emphasized that digital health technologies, especially when guided by physical therapists, offer significant promise in improving both access and affordability of care while also potentially lowering costs and improving patient outcomes by integrating physical therapists earlier in the episode of care.
This approach provides a viable alternative to costly imaging studies, procedures, and referrals for conditions that can be managed through conservative methods, which also alleviates strain on other providers in the healthcare system.
APTA acknowledges that digital health technologies will augment, not replace, in-person care. These technologies offer exceptional value for patients who face barriers to accessing traditional physical therapy services. However, the association stresses the crucial role of the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in delivering comprehensive care.
APTA is encouraging policymakers to integrate digital health technologies, used by physical therapists, as a medical service rather than a wellness benefit. This is vital to ensuring equitable access, as separating these technologies from standard medical delivery hinders access and prevents patients from fully benefiting from them.
APTA further urges payers and purchasers to reduce administrative burdens on in-person care, establish equitable payment policies that improve patient affordability, and provide fair payment rates to licensed physical therapists who have demonstrated their value in providing quality care and positive patient outcomes.
APTA also notes a few limitations of the PHTI report:
- The report focuses exclusively on virtual physical therapy for musculoskeletal conditions.
- It excludes pre- and post-surgical periods.
- It does not evaluate conditions with co-contributing diagnoses often treated by physical therapists, like cancers, infections, and neurological disorders.
APTA concludes that physical therapy remains an underutilized and undervalued service in healthcare. Virtual musculoskeletal solutions, when led by a physical therapist, represent an important step toward increasing access to high-quality, affordable care, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.
Contact: news@apta.org
