Meet Your APTA Home Health Government Affairs Co-ChairsHappy Spring from the newly appointed APTA Home Health Government Affairs Co-Chairs, Eva Norman, PT, DPT, CEEAA and Denise Wentzell-Yonkovich, PT, DSc, CEEAA! Here is a short introduction: Eva Norman has been a member of APTA Home Health since 2004. She is currently serving as the APTA Home Health Federal Affairs Liaison and APTA Home Health Delegate since January 2023. She owns a private practice in MN and FL specializing in wellness, preventative and health promotion services for the aging population called Live your Life. Due to a life altering event when she was 13 years old when a physical therapist saved her life, she has been giving back to the profession she loves through her service. In wanting to make a difference by giving her patients a voice, she became an advocate as a student and has attended her state and Washington DC Capitol Hill Days for over 20 years. Her motto is “Learn-Educate-Advocate, Physical Therapy & Your Patients are Counting on You!” Denise Wentzell-Yonkovich has been a practicing physical therapist for over 30 years and an APTA member since the beginning. Her experience is in outpatient orthopedics, education, and in the last twelve years, home health. Denise became interested in the “politics” of the profession when she was completing her Doctorate research on Direct Access and the DPT degree. She started following trends and began advocating for the PT profession by writing letters to her representatives and Senators in her state on different topics. Over the last several years, the recent changes to the Medicare payment schedule and reimbursement have spurred Denise to being more involved. She is hoping to learn as much as she can as she is mentored in this role and to be able to be a resource and a voice for the physical therapy profession. Members, we encourage you to join the APTA Advocacy Network. By joining our grassroots, you can stay connected and engaged on the current issues of the profession. It is free to participate and easy to join. Simply download APTA Action App, select Advocacy Network Signup, and join. Participants will receive special updates and action alerts when we need your voice to be heard. The email will contain information about the current issue or bill that the APTA is seeking support from Congress along with a prepared letter/template for the participant to send automatically to their US Senators and Representatives. It’s that easy! Our letters have helped pass important legislation over the years so let’s keep the momentum going! Join now and let YOUR voice be heard. Reach out to us should you have any questions or concerns. Thank you in advance for your advocacy! Sincerely, Eva Norman [email protected] |