It’s Mental Health Awareness Month

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a good time to think about ways in which you can protect your mental health, including taking steps to manage stress.

Long-term stress can contribute to or worsen many mental and physical health problems. But fortunately, there are ways to counteract its effects. We have access to a built-in “stress reset button” that acts as an antidote to stress. It’s called the relaxation response. It’s the opposite of your body’s response to stress. The relaxation response slows your heart rate, lowers your blood pressure, and decreases oxygen consumption and levels of stress hormones.

By learning simple techniques that produce the relaxation response—such as progressive muscle relaxation, simple mindfulness exercises, and slow, deep breathing—you can help prevent stress from building up. That’s good for both your mind and your body.

Learn More About Stress

Surgeon General Outlines Framework to Address Loneliness

The Hill | By Lauren Sforza

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., plans to introduce a three-part framework to address loneliness in the US, as about half of Americans are experiencing loneliness at any given time, and social disconnection can lead to an increased risk of mental health and physical issues in addition to premature death. Social connection must be a priority and "will require reorienting ourselves, our communities, and our institutions to prioritize human connection and healthy relationships," Dr. Murthy writes.

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Guidance for the Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE)

Staff Vaccination Requirements

On November 5, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule (CMS-3415-IFC) requiring Medicare and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers to ensure that their staff were fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (i.e., obtain the primary vaccination series), which was a critical step to protect patients. On April 10, 2023, the President signed legislation that ended the COVID-19 national emergency. On May 11, 2023, the COVID-19 public health emergency is expected to expire. In light of these developments and comments received on the interim final rule, CMS will soon end the requirement that covered providers and suppliers establish policies and procedures for staff vaccination. CMS will share more details regarding ending this requirement at the anticipated end of the public health emergency. We continue to remind everyone that the strongest protection from COVID-19 is the vaccine. Therefore, CMS urges everyone to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine.

Emergency Preparedness: Training and Testing Program Exemption

The following information supersedes the previously issued QSO-20-41-ALL-REVISED memo for all certified providers/suppliers. CMS regulations for Emergency Preparedness (EP) require the provider/supplier to conduct exercises to test their EP plan to ensure that it works and that staff are trained appropriately about their roles and the provider/supplier’s processes. During or after an actual emergency, the EP regulations allow for a one-year exemption from the requirement that the provider/supplier perform testing exercises. The exemption only applies to the next required full-scale exercise (not the exercise of choice), based on the 12-month exercise cycle. The cycle is determined by the provider/supplier (e.g., calendar, fiscal or another 12- month timeframe). The exemption only applies when a provider/supplier activates its emergency preparedness program for an emergency event.

See pages 10-12 of the attached document for updates on other home health and hospice-specific waivers.

5 Things You Can Do This Spring to Advocate for Your Profession

By: Dr. Eva Norman, PT, DPT

It’s spring and our US members of Congress want to hear from their constituents. They are home in the district throughout the spring. Check out the Senate schedule and House schedule to find out when. We have a wonderful opportunity to educate legislators on issues important to us and our patients. However, only 11% of the entire APTA membership are currently advocating for our profession. Help us strengthen our voices on Capitol Hill! If you want to improve your reimbursement, reduce administrative burdens, and improve access to your services, make a difference by doing one of the following:

1. Download the APTA Action App: Have easy and quick access to legislative issues, your legislators, and ability to take action and have your voice heard.  Download for iPhone. Download for Android.
   
   
2. Join the Advocacy Network: It is the best way to advocate and stay informed on the issues facing our patients and the profession. In 30 seconds or less, you can sign up and grow our grassroots, get regular Congressional updates through email, and advocate through emails created by APTA. There are legislators that will vote based on the number of letters they receive, especially if they are not healthcare experts or know enough about the issue. Your letter can sway a vote!
   
   

3. Read the latest Federal Affairs Liaison Briefing Memo: This is a great way to learn and stay informed about the Congressional legislative issues impacting physical therapy and our patients.

4. Attend a local town hall meeting: These meetings can be invaluable to learn what issues are important to your member of Congress, to build a relationship by introducing yourself to the legislator and their staff (Mention you are a therapist or student!), and to alert the legislator on what is important to your profession. They always want to hear from constituents! Google search their name and go to their Congressional website to learn when the next meeting is. Inquire about the healthcare town hall meetings.

5. Donate to the PT PAC: PT PAC is the federal fund raising arm of the association. A donation of any kind can help the profession have more face time with members of Congress to educate them about the value of physical therapy. If every member donated $20, we would be the largest healthcare PAC in the country. Imagine what we could accomplish! 

Help advance the profession through advocacy today. Contact me should you have any questions at [email protected].

Learn*Educate*Advocate
PT & Our Patients are Counting on You!

Dr. Eva Norman, PT DPT
Newly appointed APTA Home Health Federal Affairs Liaison