Public Policy Committee Recent Initiatives

The Public Policy Committee of the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) has recently supported the following initiatives:

• Letter of support for Wound Management Specialist Certification by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)--read it below (12/20/2018) 
• Submitted comments to National Quality Forum on MUC18-107 Hospital Harm – Pressure Injury (12/5/2018)
• Submitted a request a formal policy reconsideration for Local Coverage Determination (LCD) titled Wound Care, LCD ID DL37228, for contractor Wisconsin Physicians Services Insurance Corporation (11/29/2018)
• Submitted a response to Medi-Cal’s coverage criteria for seating and positioning products (1/25/2018)
• Submitted comments to CMS regarding Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Proposed Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2019 Rates (6/25/2018)
• The NPIAP Public Policy Committee recommends against including pressure redistribution surfaces (mattresses, mattress overlays and seat cushions) as part of the competitive bidding process--read more here. (7/27/2011)

American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Letter of Support for Wound Management Specialist Certification

American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)

c/o American Physical Therapy Association
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-1488

December 20, 2018

American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)
Letter of Support for Wound Management Specialist Certification

As the Public Policy Committee of NPIAP, and the Board of Directors we are writing this letter in support of a Wound Management Specialist Certification for physical therapists.

The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) is an independent, not-for-profit professional organization dedicated to the prevention and management of pressure injuries. Formed in 1987, the NPIAP Board of Directors is composed of leading experts from different health care disciplines—all of whom share a commitment to the prevention and management of pressure injuries. The NPIAP serves as a resource to health care professionals, government, the public, and health care agencies; and welcomes and encourages the participation of those interested in pressure injury issues through utilization of NPIAP educational materials, participation at national conferences, and support of efforts in public policy, education and research.

The NPIAP supports a Wound Management Specialist Certification for physical therapists. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has been a Collaborating Organization of the NPIAP for over a decade. As such, a physical therapist representative has attended our bi annual meetings as a member of our panel and has also participated as a voting member in our Consensus Conferences on issues such as non-avoidable pressure injuries and the staging system.

Physical therapists have participated in developing NPIAP’s clinical guideline documents and have also served as members of NPIAP’s Board of Directors. We feel that physical therapists are an integral part of the team for preventing and treating pressure injuries and are in favor of Wound Management Specialist clinical specialization through ABPTS.

Sincerely,

Sarah Holden-Mount, PT, CWS
Public Policy Chair