The Californer - PTPN Celebrates 40 Years of Building a Brighter Future for Rehab Therapists

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America's First Specialty Network Helps Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapists

CALABASAS, Calif. - Californer -- n 1985, "Back to the Future" topped the box office, "Dallas" was the most-watched TV show, and a dozen eggs cost 83 cents. That same year, the nation's first specialty healthcare provider network, PTPN, was born.

Forty years later, PTPN continues to be the industry leader in supporting physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT) and speech language pathology (SLP) professionals in private practice.

The first-of-its-kind network was created to help private practitioners survive and thrive amid the rise in the 1980s of powerful new healthcare entities like HMOs, PPOs, and corporate therapy competitors, which were threatening the viability of the independent practice.

And four decades on, with the average cost of eggs nearing $5 per dozen and "A Minecraft Movie" leading the box office race, PTPN has grown from just over 100 member locations in California to more than 800 locations in 14 states across the country.

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"While PTPN's core mission of supporting private practice hasn't changed over these 40 years, the ways we help practices succeed have evolved to stay a step ahead of the rapidly changing healthcare landscape," said PTPN CEO Stevyn Voyles, a physical therapy executive for more than 35 years.

Alongside network innovations, some of the elements that have remained consistent over the decades are the network services that practitioners most value, including:

securing in-network status with dozens of health plans and other payers via one-stop credentialing for PTPN providers;
earning exclusive reimbursement increases from many of those payer partners;
troubleshooting claims and payment issues that may arise for member practices.

"PTPN expedites the credentialing process and provides access to insurances that I was told had a closed panel," said Billy Beaudreau, PT, DPT, MTC, OCS, FAAOMPT, owner of Comprehensive Physical Therapy in Mandeville and Metarie, La., a PTPN member since 2021. "This has brought a significant increase in revenue due to our ability to help patients that otherwise would have sought out other options."

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Liz Souza, DPT, CHT, a PTPN member for 34 years, agreed that PTPN helps practices navigate the complexities of reimbursement. "The insurance companies are always one step ahead of all of us in the denial game, but PTPN has been very helpful in navigating the everchanging rules of engagement," said Souza, owner of Gary M. Souza PT & Associates in Diamond Bar, Calif.

"Looking ahead, PTPN is focused on creating even more opportunities for growth, innovation, and success," Voyles said. "Our commitment to advocating for our members is stronger than ever, as is our drive to enhancing payers' and patients' access to the best therapy providers delivering the top therapy outcomes in their communities."

Learn more at https://ptpn.com.