WEBVTT 00:00:00.450 --> 00:00:00.751 Thank you. 00:00:04.790 --> 00:00:06.570 We'll give you the jazzy music. 00:00:07.532 --> 00:00:07.711 All right. 00:00:07.873 --> 00:00:09.974 Advocacy is not optional. 00:00:10.294 --> 00:00:11.976 It's either something you do intentionally 00:00:12.195 --> 00:00:13.237 or something that happens to you. 00:00:13.297 --> 00:00:14.497 It feels like maybe it's like getting hit 00:00:14.518 --> 00:00:15.038 by a truck. 00:00:15.057 --> 00:00:16.239 You're jumping over the truck. 00:00:16.318 --> 00:00:17.359 The truck is jumping over you. 00:00:17.740 --> 00:00:19.481 Our next guest has spent decades inside 00:00:19.521 --> 00:00:21.903 this machinery of health care policy and 00:00:21.923 --> 00:00:23.204 professional advocacy. 00:00:23.664 --> 00:00:25.227 Live from Anaheim, Jim Leahy. 00:00:25.246 --> 00:00:26.347 Jim, welcome to the show. 00:00:26.588 --> 00:00:27.007 Thanks, Jimmy. 00:00:27.187 --> 00:00:27.829 Great to be here. 00:00:28.149 --> 00:00:29.050 How's this little conference, 00:00:29.070 --> 00:00:30.571 this little shindig going for you so far? 00:00:30.731 --> 00:00:31.550 You know, I love CSM. 00:00:31.751 --> 00:00:32.170 Yeah. 00:00:32.451 --> 00:00:33.091 It's a big party. 00:00:33.112 --> 00:00:33.792 It's a big party. 00:00:33.851 --> 00:00:34.851 It's great people. 00:00:34.951 --> 00:00:37.033 You know, we get to see, you know, 00:00:37.073 --> 00:00:38.432 clients of ours from all over the country 00:00:38.472 --> 00:00:39.573 in one place for a whole week. 00:00:39.654 --> 00:00:40.014 And, you know, 00:00:40.033 --> 00:00:40.933 you get to know people better. 00:00:41.094 --> 00:00:41.314 Yeah. 00:00:41.514 --> 00:00:42.514 And PTs are people. 00:00:42.914 --> 00:00:43.115 Yeah. 00:00:43.155 --> 00:00:43.594 Persons. 00:00:43.695 --> 00:00:43.975 Yeah. 00:00:44.295 --> 00:00:45.274 And this energy, 00:00:45.295 --> 00:00:47.915 you hear a lot of energizing, 00:00:47.956 --> 00:00:49.756 refilling the battery metaphors and 00:00:49.795 --> 00:00:50.557 analogies. 00:00:50.856 --> 00:00:51.597 And that's what it is. 00:00:51.877 --> 00:00:53.198 It's really important to remember what 00:00:53.237 --> 00:00:54.118 fills your cup in life. 00:00:54.237 --> 00:00:57.098 If you're just running hot all the time, 00:00:57.118 --> 00:00:58.039 you're going to run out of gas. 00:00:58.600 --> 00:00:59.780 This is the kind of stuff that reminds 00:00:59.801 --> 00:01:01.722 you why you work with these kinds of 00:01:01.741 --> 00:01:02.002 people. 00:01:02.182 --> 00:01:03.542 So you're not a physical therapist? 00:01:03.582 --> 00:01:04.003 I'm not. 00:01:04.143 --> 00:01:05.483 But you've been in this profession. 00:01:05.582 --> 00:01:07.584 What was the award last year? 00:01:07.843 --> 00:01:09.245 Honorary member of APTA. 00:01:09.265 --> 00:01:11.085 I've been involved with APTA chapters 00:01:11.126 --> 00:01:11.385 since 00:01:14.632 --> 00:01:16.573 And I'm not licensed, 00:01:16.614 --> 00:01:18.073 but I can diagnose occasionally. 00:01:18.134 --> 00:01:20.915 And they don't hand that out. 00:01:21.036 --> 00:01:23.057 I feel like that title doesn't really, 00:01:23.096 --> 00:01:24.278 it doesn't sound as heavy as, 00:01:24.358 --> 00:01:26.438 they don't hand that title out to people. 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:28.359 My understanding is there are about twenty 00:01:28.420 --> 00:01:28.799 of us. 00:01:28.819 --> 00:01:30.680 Yeah, that's a pretty good list. 00:01:30.700 --> 00:01:31.221 It was humbling. 00:01:31.240 --> 00:01:32.141 I have to be honest. 00:01:32.201 --> 00:01:34.102 It was one of my dearest friends on 00:01:34.123 --> 00:01:36.123 the planet Earth, APTA folks. 00:01:36.263 --> 00:01:37.323 And when I got the call, 00:01:37.424 --> 00:01:38.584 I was speechless, 00:01:38.605 --> 00:01:40.046 which doesn't actually happen to me very 00:01:40.085 --> 00:01:40.266 often. 00:01:40.700 --> 00:01:41.219 I can attest. 00:01:41.239 --> 00:01:42.161 I've talked to this guy a lot. 00:01:42.662 --> 00:01:43.501 There are a few people who can talk 00:01:43.542 --> 00:01:44.063 as much as me. 00:01:44.082 --> 00:01:44.623 This is one of them. 00:01:44.802 --> 00:01:45.524 It must be the Jimmy thing. 00:01:46.685 --> 00:01:47.986 So give people context. 00:01:49.126 --> 00:01:50.727 Not just a title of what you do, 00:01:51.248 --> 00:01:53.150 but how do you describe what actually gets 00:01:53.209 --> 00:01:53.430 done? 00:01:53.450 --> 00:01:57.713 You work at a high but tactical level 00:01:57.834 --> 00:01:58.534 with state chapters. 00:01:58.978 --> 00:01:59.058 Yeah, 00:01:59.078 --> 00:02:01.221 so I'm the managing director of a public 00:02:01.260 --> 00:02:02.962 affairs firm based out of Boston. 00:02:03.563 --> 00:02:06.545 And, you know, in my professional career, 00:02:06.644 --> 00:02:08.567 I kind of started as a lobbyist and 00:02:08.667 --> 00:02:10.688 a nonprofit manager. 00:02:11.810 --> 00:02:13.350 And when the APTA thing started back in 00:02:13.371 --> 00:02:13.850 ninety two, 00:02:13.890 --> 00:02:15.171 I was the lobbyist in Connecticut. 00:02:15.192 --> 00:02:15.733 A couple of years later, 00:02:15.752 --> 00:02:17.274 they asked me to be the executive director 00:02:17.294 --> 00:02:18.574 and it worked out. 00:02:18.634 --> 00:02:21.538 And then not intentionally, 00:02:21.758 --> 00:02:24.039 but we slowly started acquiring chapters 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:25.781 in the Northeast and we learned some stuff 00:02:25.800 --> 00:02:27.603 about how to work together. 00:02:28.598 --> 00:02:30.180 You know that a good friend of mine 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:31.640 wrote an article back in nineteen ninety 00:02:31.661 --> 00:02:34.062 five about organizational development and 00:02:34.163 --> 00:02:36.186 whether organizations are egocentric or 00:02:36.225 --> 00:02:37.546 everything had to run through them or 00:02:37.667 --> 00:02:39.788 network centric or just creating 00:02:39.829 --> 00:02:40.870 opportunities for people. 00:02:41.531 --> 00:02:42.711 And we've developed the latter model. 00:02:42.831 --> 00:02:45.054 We have regular gatherings of like our 00:02:45.074 --> 00:02:47.836 presidents and they and they really become 00:02:47.856 --> 00:02:49.218 friends and it's a support network. 00:02:49.793 --> 00:02:50.932 I think one of the first times we 00:02:50.953 --> 00:02:52.334 had done a project together was during 00:02:52.394 --> 00:02:54.995 COVID when someone had emailed me and they 00:02:55.014 --> 00:02:55.275 were like, 00:02:55.314 --> 00:02:57.455 you know how to do a live streams. 00:02:58.116 --> 00:02:59.736 And we got this conference that now can't 00:02:59.757 --> 00:03:00.477 be in person, 00:03:00.977 --> 00:03:02.557 but I feel like in the Northeast, 00:03:03.098 --> 00:03:04.298 I did hear a comedian say this, 00:03:04.358 --> 00:03:04.617 it looks, 00:03:04.777 --> 00:03:07.079 I know that the United States was settled 00:03:07.579 --> 00:03:08.079 East to West, 00:03:08.098 --> 00:03:08.939 but it looks like it was done the 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:09.319 other way. 00:03:09.900 --> 00:03:11.060 And we just ran out of room and 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:12.360 started designing States of the Northeast, 00:03:12.741 --> 00:03:13.800 just look like puzzle pieces. 00:03:14.201 --> 00:03:16.802 But I feel like out of proximity and 00:03:16.842 --> 00:03:17.522 geography, 00:03:18.242 --> 00:03:20.644 the states from Maine, New England, Maine, 00:03:20.683 --> 00:03:22.044 down to where I am in New York, 00:03:22.786 --> 00:03:24.006 wind up doing things together. 00:03:24.145 --> 00:03:24.567 It's easier. 00:03:24.747 --> 00:03:25.387 Yeah, it's easier. 00:03:25.407 --> 00:03:25.586 Right. 00:03:25.627 --> 00:03:26.306 It's just easier. 00:03:26.366 --> 00:03:28.229 And, you know, 00:03:28.588 --> 00:03:32.531 when education and meetings moved to more 00:03:32.631 --> 00:03:33.211 virtual, 00:03:34.451 --> 00:03:36.073 those geographic lines got less important. 00:03:36.112 --> 00:03:36.532 Didn't matter. 00:03:37.152 --> 00:03:38.813 And that's what enabled us to expand 00:03:38.834 --> 00:03:39.414 beyond New England. 00:03:39.455 --> 00:03:40.615 Now we work with Minnesota, 00:03:40.634 --> 00:03:41.895 Colorado and South Dakota. 00:03:42.235 --> 00:03:42.836 And to be frank, 00:03:42.877 --> 00:03:44.037 I've had a bunch of conversations this 00:03:44.076 --> 00:03:44.918 week with other folks who 00:03:45.638 --> 00:03:45.798 You know, 00:03:46.277 --> 00:03:48.318 I'm not under any delusion that it's us 00:03:48.399 --> 00:03:49.618 they want to be with necessarily, 00:03:49.658 --> 00:03:51.739 but they see how our presidents work 00:03:51.758 --> 00:03:53.639 together, how our chairs work together. 00:03:54.060 --> 00:03:55.439 And those kind of support systems are 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:57.260 really important when you're in battle. 00:03:58.461 --> 00:04:00.561 And legislative battles are battles. 00:04:00.841 --> 00:04:01.342 With words. 00:04:01.722 --> 00:04:03.481 Policy and words. 00:04:03.662 --> 00:04:05.562 And because that's my lens, 00:04:05.622 --> 00:04:06.823 because that's where I come from, 00:04:08.603 --> 00:04:10.343 I enjoy taking times to teach people about 00:04:10.403 --> 00:04:10.604 advocacy. 00:04:10.745 --> 00:04:11.504 And it's like everything else. 00:04:11.705 --> 00:04:13.006 Many hands make light work. 00:04:13.026 --> 00:04:15.348 And if PTs would engage at the same 00:04:15.388 --> 00:04:16.588 level that chiropractors do, 00:04:17.649 --> 00:04:18.970 we'd be stronger than chiropractors 00:04:18.990 --> 00:04:19.790 because there are more of us. 00:04:20.651 --> 00:04:21.230 But we don't. 00:04:21.771 --> 00:04:23.372 Lots of PTs think differently. 00:04:24.059 --> 00:04:25.961 they can delegate their advocacy 00:04:25.982 --> 00:04:27.343 responsibilities to other PTs, 00:04:27.384 --> 00:04:28.204 and it's not how it works. 00:04:28.225 --> 00:04:28.846 Yeah, 00:04:28.865 --> 00:04:32.870 people will never talk about your goals or 00:04:32.911 --> 00:04:35.093 visions as often, as passionately, 00:04:35.154 --> 00:04:35.875 as accurately. 00:04:36.255 --> 00:04:38.459 When you farm that out, 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:39.661 you lose something. 00:04:39.940 --> 00:04:40.341 It's funny. 00:04:40.401 --> 00:04:41.781 People are intimidated by talking to 00:04:41.841 --> 00:04:42.422 legislators. 00:04:42.541 --> 00:04:43.802 And one thing you learn when you deal 00:04:43.843 --> 00:04:45.803 with legislators a lot is they're not very 00:04:45.843 --> 00:04:46.264 intimidating. 00:04:46.283 --> 00:04:47.384 You know, 00:04:47.723 --> 00:04:49.584 often they're the most popular person in a 00:04:49.644 --> 00:04:50.846 room at a meeting when they were trying 00:04:50.865 --> 00:04:51.966 to decide who'd run for office. 00:04:52.567 --> 00:04:54.026 And very few of them are physical 00:04:54.047 --> 00:04:54.427 therapists. 00:04:54.547 --> 00:04:56.588 So you have something to bring to them. 00:04:56.608 --> 00:04:56.687 Yeah. 00:04:56.708 --> 00:04:57.449 You know, 00:04:57.509 --> 00:04:59.129 it's frustrating for me when I go to 00:04:59.149 --> 00:05:00.709 a state day on the Hill and it's 00:05:00.850 --> 00:05:01.891 eighty percent students. 00:05:01.911 --> 00:05:02.110 Yeah, 00:05:02.250 --> 00:05:04.531 because that sends a bad message that says 00:05:04.552 --> 00:05:06.552 the legislators that we sense we sent 00:05:06.593 --> 00:05:08.233 students and nobody else showed up with 00:05:08.252 --> 00:05:08.514 them. 00:05:08.533 --> 00:05:09.134 With that said, 00:05:10.096 --> 00:05:11.677 Physical therapists who commit to advocacy 00:05:11.697 --> 00:05:13.858 can be very good at it because it 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:16.000 doesn't matter why you care about 00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:16.360 something. 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:18.620 The question is why should the legislator 00:05:18.661 --> 00:05:19.100 care about it? 00:05:19.161 --> 00:05:20.442 Why is it good for their constituents? 00:05:20.502 --> 00:05:21.783 Why is it good for them politically? 00:05:21.822 --> 00:05:23.863 And so we're used to talking to patients 00:05:23.903 --> 00:05:25.043 that way. 00:05:25.904 --> 00:05:27.125 I can't just dump what I know on 00:05:27.185 --> 00:05:27.285 you. 00:05:27.305 --> 00:05:28.305 You're not going to be a compliant 00:05:28.346 --> 00:05:28.646 patient. 00:05:28.706 --> 00:05:30.086 I need to explain why you need to 00:05:30.127 --> 00:05:30.387 do it. 00:05:30.427 --> 00:05:31.226 Understanding. 00:05:31.286 --> 00:05:32.387 Yeah. 00:05:32.884 --> 00:05:35.504 So in your role, I mean, 00:05:35.524 --> 00:05:36.045 a lot of people, 00:05:36.064 --> 00:05:38.665 when you go to APTA Minnesota, 00:05:38.786 --> 00:05:40.886 APTA Connecticut's website, 00:05:41.225 --> 00:05:42.687 it looks like the highest ranking person 00:05:43.086 --> 00:05:44.726 on the association is the president. 00:05:44.747 --> 00:05:46.387 The president is elected and serves a 00:05:46.447 --> 00:05:46.848 term. 00:05:47.267 --> 00:05:48.848 They're usually a physical therapist or a 00:05:48.867 --> 00:05:49.447 business owner, 00:05:49.848 --> 00:05:51.728 but you're sort of the structure that 00:05:51.788 --> 00:05:53.668 remains from administration to 00:05:53.769 --> 00:05:54.550 administration. 00:05:55.790 --> 00:05:56.829 What do you sort of provide? 00:05:56.889 --> 00:05:58.630 What are the things that people don't know 00:05:59.591 --> 00:06:00.572 is being provided by it. 00:06:00.591 --> 00:06:01.793 Yeah, we're the infrastructure, right? 00:06:01.812 --> 00:06:02.973 So we do board development, 00:06:02.994 --> 00:06:03.975 leadership development. 00:06:04.014 --> 00:06:05.175 We work on communications. 00:06:05.817 --> 00:06:07.177 We try to figure out how to help 00:06:07.197 --> 00:06:08.218 them reach their goals. 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:09.901 And because we have experience, 00:06:10.821 --> 00:06:12.122 we've seen where it works and where it 00:06:12.142 --> 00:06:12.483 fails. 00:06:12.502 --> 00:06:13.363 So you can sort of be in a 00:06:13.384 --> 00:06:16.165 room and be like, sort of, no, 00:06:16.245 --> 00:06:17.146 I see what you're trying to do there, 00:06:17.166 --> 00:06:17.887 but we've done that, 00:06:17.908 --> 00:06:19.209 and here's three reasons why that might 00:06:19.249 --> 00:06:20.089 not be as effective. 00:06:20.490 --> 00:06:21.771 And usually what it comes down to is 00:06:21.810 --> 00:06:22.411 tweaking stuff. 00:06:22.610 --> 00:06:23.831 Yeah, so it's not far off. 00:06:23.851 --> 00:06:25.312 It's just two degrees off. 00:06:25.331 --> 00:06:27.913 I am a lifelong committed optimist. 00:06:28.213 --> 00:06:30.254 And my staff often roll their eyes at 00:06:30.274 --> 00:06:31.615 me because I'll say, oh, 00:06:31.634 --> 00:06:32.254 we can do that. 00:06:32.535 --> 00:06:34.175 And, you know, it takes a little work. 00:06:34.255 --> 00:06:36.857 But if someone's passionate, 00:06:36.896 --> 00:06:38.156 if you get people to really work, 00:06:39.637 --> 00:06:39.817 you know, 00:06:39.838 --> 00:06:41.139 a team to work in a direction, 00:06:41.178 --> 00:06:42.418 you can accomplish incredible things. 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:42.598 You know, 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:44.120 I spent my life as a soccer coach. 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:47.180 And the compliment that I got from players 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:49.201 most often was that I made them believe 00:06:49.221 --> 00:06:50.401 they could achieve something that they 00:06:50.442 --> 00:06:51.583 never thought they could achieve on their 00:06:51.622 --> 00:06:51.682 own. 00:06:52.252 --> 00:06:53.192 And I feel like we do the same 00:06:53.233 --> 00:06:54.574 thing with therapists often. 00:06:54.634 --> 00:06:55.673 Like they didn't think they could be a 00:06:55.713 --> 00:06:56.293 good lobbyist. 00:06:56.574 --> 00:06:58.194 So what's the pitch to someone who's like, 00:06:58.235 --> 00:06:59.875 that looks like a lot of work and 00:06:59.954 --> 00:07:01.774 I'm not, I got twenty other things. 00:07:01.814 --> 00:07:04.136 Like what's sort of your way of getting 00:07:04.156 --> 00:07:06.317 them to take one step and then showing 00:07:06.336 --> 00:07:07.737 them that that one step wasn't that bad 00:07:07.757 --> 00:07:08.737 and why not take one more? 00:07:09.057 --> 00:07:09.637 Yeah, well two things. 00:07:09.697 --> 00:07:10.898 One is we develop tools to make it 00:07:10.958 --> 00:07:11.257 easier. 00:07:11.338 --> 00:07:11.557 Good. 00:07:11.997 --> 00:07:14.199 And then reminding them that it doesn't 00:07:14.238 --> 00:07:15.338 matter what you learned in school and it 00:07:15.358 --> 00:07:16.418 doesn't matter what you know how you can 00:07:16.459 --> 00:07:16.598 do. 00:07:16.678 --> 00:07:18.180 State legislatures determine what your 00:07:18.220 --> 00:07:19.360 scope of practice is. 00:07:19.877 --> 00:07:21.538 And if you're interested in sitting it out 00:07:21.559 --> 00:07:22.999 and hoping they make good decisions. 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:23.959 Let me know how that works out. 00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:24.680 You're a knucklehead. 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:26.300 Yeah, you're just a knucklehead. 00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:28.541 I actually have been lucky enough to pass 00:07:28.661 --> 00:07:31.362 three first in the nation state laws. 00:07:31.382 --> 00:07:33.103 Oh, wow. 00:07:33.124 --> 00:07:33.463 Fun one. 00:07:33.983 --> 00:07:34.303 Warning, 00:07:34.343 --> 00:07:36.324 small parts may pose choke hazard. 00:07:36.345 --> 00:07:36.805 Those are you? 00:07:36.925 --> 00:07:37.406 It was me. 00:07:37.425 --> 00:07:37.946 Wow. 00:07:37.966 --> 00:07:39.547 Nineteen ninety one over the objection of 00:07:39.627 --> 00:07:39.887 Lego. 00:07:41.548 --> 00:07:44.069 And actually, in this very building, 00:07:44.149 --> 00:07:45.790 celebrated the success passing the first 00:07:46.331 --> 00:07:48.632 GMO labeling law in the country, 00:07:48.992 --> 00:07:51.074 which later got struck down by the feds. 00:07:51.595 --> 00:07:54.196 But you can achieve some pretty cool stuff 00:07:54.235 --> 00:07:55.396 if you get committed groups of people 00:07:55.437 --> 00:07:55.798 together. 00:07:55.838 --> 00:07:57.319 That Margaret Mead quote, you know, 00:07:57.338 --> 00:07:59.220 don't underestimate what a small group of 00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:00.380 committed people can do. 00:08:00.440 --> 00:08:01.922 It can change the world. 00:08:01.942 --> 00:08:03.041 It's the only thing that ever has. 00:08:03.963 --> 00:08:04.262 And so... 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:05.800 Like, 00:08:05.819 --> 00:08:06.879 I don't know why you'd spend as much 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:08.721 money as people spend on a PT education 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:10.721 and then hope that they let you do 00:08:11.362 --> 00:08:11.461 it. 00:08:11.541 --> 00:08:12.423 It doesn't make any sense. 00:08:12.442 --> 00:08:14.463 And the one thing we know about politics 00:08:15.184 --> 00:08:16.704 is it's not a lot of work at 00:08:16.803 --> 00:08:17.745 any given time. 00:08:18.464 --> 00:08:20.286 It's just over a long period of time 00:08:20.305 --> 00:08:21.505 because it's about relationships. 00:08:21.565 --> 00:08:22.165 Correct. 00:08:22.206 --> 00:08:22.867 The question is, 00:08:22.887 --> 00:08:24.367 when a legislator is faced with an issue 00:08:24.387 --> 00:08:24.987 around this stuff, 00:08:25.067 --> 00:08:26.067 are they reaching out to you? 00:08:26.976 --> 00:08:28.218 And if you spend enough time developing 00:08:28.237 --> 00:08:30.257 the relationship, that'll happen. 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:31.538 And it doesn't mean you have to go 00:08:31.559 --> 00:08:35.660 to Boston or Hartford or Denver or St. 00:08:35.681 --> 00:08:35.921 Paul. 00:08:37.321 --> 00:08:38.822 Go to the coffee house in the district 00:08:38.861 --> 00:08:41.283 where they're having an open town hall or 00:08:41.423 --> 00:08:43.083 just an open office hours. 00:08:43.695 --> 00:08:44.495 Just have a conversation. 00:08:44.634 --> 00:08:46.735 They're interested in what you care about. 00:08:47.216 --> 00:08:47.475 You know, 00:08:47.495 --> 00:08:48.556 when you get to the legislature and 00:08:48.576 --> 00:08:50.216 there's advocacy sides on both sides, 00:08:50.256 --> 00:08:51.517 it's knock down, drag out. 00:08:51.576 --> 00:08:51.917 Right. 00:08:52.657 --> 00:08:55.577 And it really does help if they know 00:08:55.618 --> 00:08:56.577 you and trust you. 00:08:56.738 --> 00:08:57.298 It does. 00:08:57.618 --> 00:08:58.618 And you have to be willing to tell 00:08:58.638 --> 00:08:59.178 the truth, 00:08:59.578 --> 00:09:02.139 even when the answer is uncomfortable. 00:09:02.158 --> 00:09:03.139 The legislature says, yeah, 00:09:03.158 --> 00:09:04.379 your houses can impact you. 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:05.340 Don't exaggerate. 00:09:06.515 --> 00:09:07.537 Because they'll figure that out. 00:09:07.976 --> 00:09:09.399 I know legislators who will ask a 00:09:09.438 --> 00:09:11.321 difficult question on purpose to see how 00:09:11.400 --> 00:09:11.860 you answer it. 00:09:11.880 --> 00:09:13.081 Oh, that's smart. 00:09:13.241 --> 00:09:14.524 And if you lie, you're done. 00:09:14.764 --> 00:09:15.924 Because they're judging your character. 00:09:15.985 --> 00:09:16.365 Absolutely. 00:09:16.485 --> 00:09:17.866 If I ask this person later a question 00:09:17.907 --> 00:09:18.847 I don't know the answer to, 00:09:18.888 --> 00:09:20.408 am I getting the truth or not? 00:09:20.469 --> 00:09:21.529 In Connecticut last year, 00:09:22.630 --> 00:09:25.052 we wanted to pass mandatory ethics CE. 00:09:26.065 --> 00:09:27.666 So we have a CE requirement already. 00:09:27.985 --> 00:09:29.405 We just wanted two hours of that to 00:09:29.426 --> 00:09:31.427 have to be ethics because with the 00:09:31.447 --> 00:09:33.488 pressures from health insurance these days 00:09:33.528 --> 00:09:35.807 and long hours and burnout that we see 00:09:35.847 --> 00:09:36.489 in our profession, 00:09:36.528 --> 00:09:39.068 we know that reminders of some ethical 00:09:39.089 --> 00:09:41.029 standards and some even tips and tricks to 00:09:41.070 --> 00:09:42.931 take pressure off yourself is really good 00:09:43.331 --> 00:09:44.390 for a therapist and creates the 00:09:44.431 --> 00:09:46.072 environment that we want, 00:09:46.572 --> 00:09:47.751 a healthy practice environment. 00:09:48.032 --> 00:09:49.673 FSBPT recommends it actually. 00:09:50.212 --> 00:09:51.833 I took one conversation with the chair of 00:09:51.854 --> 00:09:52.293 the committee 00:09:52.793 --> 00:09:54.453 who's a social worker who we talked to 00:09:54.474 --> 00:09:54.794 a lot. 00:09:55.375 --> 00:09:56.254 And as soon as we said it, 00:09:56.274 --> 00:09:56.955 she said, you're right. 00:09:57.034 --> 00:09:58.174 And she put it in the bill and 00:09:58.274 --> 00:09:59.336 we actually never had to lobby. 00:09:59.355 --> 00:09:59.456 Wow. 00:09:59.676 --> 00:10:02.216 Like because we developed the relationship 00:10:02.296 --> 00:10:03.057 and Vic Vaughn, 00:10:03.076 --> 00:10:04.697 who's the former Connecticut chapter 00:10:04.716 --> 00:10:06.136 president is a constituent of hers. 00:10:06.157 --> 00:10:07.977 He's taken a ton of time with her. 00:10:08.278 --> 00:10:09.437 Uh, and you know, 00:10:09.817 --> 00:10:10.859 we didn't sell a bill of goods. 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:11.798 It was the right thing to do. 00:10:11.918 --> 00:10:12.639 And it worked. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:14.259 Yeah. 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:15.341 Some things because again, 00:10:15.380 --> 00:10:16.421 you work across states. 00:10:16.902 --> 00:10:20.024 So you're seeing things on a state level 00:10:20.043 --> 00:10:21.664 across states in different time zones and 00:10:21.684 --> 00:10:21.965 everything. 00:10:23.125 --> 00:10:24.706 What's what's one or two things you're 00:10:24.726 --> 00:10:26.988 excited for that hopefully we can get to 00:10:27.087 --> 00:10:29.470 to change at a state level or several 00:10:29.509 --> 00:10:31.110 state level in the next three to five? 00:10:32.190 --> 00:10:34.914 I think APTA's renewed focus on payment is 00:10:34.955 --> 00:10:36.496 really important. 00:10:38.059 --> 00:10:39.623 I urge my chapters not to call them 00:10:39.663 --> 00:10:42.668 legislative committees anymore because to 00:10:42.708 --> 00:10:43.831 a carpenter with a hammer, 00:10:43.870 --> 00:10:44.772 everything looks like a nail. 00:10:45.559 --> 00:10:47.041 The legislature can be the worst place to 00:10:47.061 --> 00:10:47.922 make change sometimes. 00:10:47.942 --> 00:10:49.302 Because what, 00:10:49.403 --> 00:10:50.764 you have to do it before that? 00:10:51.144 --> 00:10:52.083 It's just long. 00:10:52.144 --> 00:10:53.284 Legislative is a long process. 00:10:53.524 --> 00:10:54.566 Nothing passes the first year. 00:10:54.625 --> 00:10:55.447 Well, our ethics bill did, 00:10:55.466 --> 00:10:56.888 but generally nothing passes in the first 00:10:56.908 --> 00:10:57.087 year. 00:10:57.488 --> 00:10:58.629 But if you look at things through a 00:10:58.668 --> 00:10:59.389 bunch of lenses, 00:10:59.408 --> 00:11:00.830 there are administrative changes that can 00:11:00.850 --> 00:11:01.071 happen. 00:11:01.091 --> 00:11:02.311 There are legislative changes that can 00:11:02.331 --> 00:11:02.532 happen. 00:11:02.552 --> 00:11:04.192 You can work directly with insurers to try 00:11:04.212 --> 00:11:05.634 to come up with pilots and other things. 00:11:05.673 --> 00:11:07.794 We're seeing some interesting AI 00:11:07.815 --> 00:11:08.716 applications now. 00:11:12.298 --> 00:11:14.919 There's a brace up in Massachusetts that's 00:11:14.940 --> 00:11:16.500 created AI to fight with the insurance 00:11:17.942 --> 00:11:19.602 company computers and then tells you when 00:11:19.623 --> 00:11:21.244 you should pick up the phone and call. 00:11:21.423 --> 00:11:22.125 It's all good. 00:11:23.306 --> 00:11:24.725 So I think the focus on payment can 00:11:24.765 --> 00:11:26.246 really help because we need, 00:11:29.129 --> 00:11:30.450 if the environment that we're in now 00:11:30.490 --> 00:11:31.990 continues, it's going to be problematic. 00:11:32.010 --> 00:11:32.951 And I think we have to approach it 00:11:32.991 --> 00:11:34.092 from a bunch of different angles, 00:11:34.552 --> 00:11:35.994 making our people smarter and doing stuff. 00:11:36.413 --> 00:11:38.316 I think there seems to be some, 00:11:39.216 --> 00:11:41.298 some movement on prior authorization laws 00:11:41.357 --> 00:11:42.740 now to make that, you know, 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:44.822 we know that making it harder for people 00:11:44.841 --> 00:11:48.546 to get treatment ruins outcomes and makes 00:11:48.566 --> 00:11:49.346 them more expensive. 00:11:49.427 --> 00:11:50.587 And I think people are starting, 00:11:50.868 --> 00:11:51.828 finally getting that. 00:11:52.309 --> 00:11:53.390 So I think we're going to keep seeing, 00:11:53.451 --> 00:11:53.770 I mean, 00:11:53.831 --> 00:11:54.993 APTA does a great job 00:11:56.004 --> 00:11:57.705 telling people how important this is and 00:11:57.784 --> 00:11:58.846 trying to provide resources. 00:11:59.186 --> 00:11:59.886 No question about it. 00:12:00.427 --> 00:12:02.408 And we just need people to not think 00:12:02.428 --> 00:12:02.948 it's optional. 00:12:03.389 --> 00:12:04.629 Like it's just part of your job. 00:12:05.110 --> 00:12:06.311 And if you're not doing it, 00:12:06.331 --> 00:12:07.351 you're letting down your patients. 00:12:10.274 --> 00:12:11.174 You're free to do it yourself. 00:12:11.794 --> 00:12:13.397 You don't have to take advantage of it. 00:12:13.417 --> 00:12:14.878 But your patients don't get access to your 00:12:14.918 --> 00:12:15.357 care. 00:12:15.457 --> 00:12:16.057 That's not cool. 00:12:16.239 --> 00:12:17.458 Yeah. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:18.580 Last thing we do on each episode is 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:19.681 called the parting shot. 00:12:20.361 --> 00:12:22.802 What's one idea, concept, quote, 00:12:22.863 --> 00:12:23.323 mic drop moment? 00:12:23.344 --> 00:12:24.224 What would you want to leave with 00:12:24.283 --> 00:12:24.945 everybody as we wrap up? 00:12:25.874 --> 00:12:25.994 Yeah, 00:12:26.033 --> 00:12:27.456 go on your state chapter website today, 00:12:27.515 --> 00:12:28.677 look up an issue and send a note 00:12:28.697 --> 00:12:29.999 to your state representative in your state 00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:31.321 center and do it before five o'clock 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:31.581 today. 00:12:31.721 --> 00:12:33.623 This live stream is twelve minutes long. 00:12:33.943 --> 00:12:36.025 You could probably said several of those 00:12:36.206 --> 00:12:37.408 in the time it took to listen to 00:12:37.727 --> 00:12:37.847 this. 00:12:38.089 --> 00:12:39.149 And I know it. 00:12:40.523 --> 00:12:41.524 I know it probably feels like it just 00:12:41.543 --> 00:12:43.445 goes into the abyss or some email address. 00:12:43.625 --> 00:12:45.988 I got a buddy who's a district state 00:12:46.008 --> 00:12:46.908 legislator in New York, 00:12:47.509 --> 00:12:49.029 and he showed me the spreadsheet. 00:12:49.350 --> 00:12:51.692 He's like, every email comes in, 00:12:52.293 --> 00:12:53.494 and we have people who email often, 00:12:53.514 --> 00:12:55.034 and he's like, I recognize the names. 00:12:55.054 --> 00:12:56.456 He's like, this person's got a soapbox, 00:12:56.556 --> 00:12:58.298 but he shows me every email. 00:12:58.518 --> 00:12:59.519 So someone's reading it, 00:12:59.578 --> 00:13:00.198 and not only reading it, 00:13:00.219 --> 00:13:01.200 but taking it out and putting it on 00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:02.600 the spreadsheet to show which topics are 00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.402 coming up most often. 00:13:03.649 --> 00:13:04.730 When I started lobbying for the 00:13:04.769 --> 00:13:06.312 Connecticut chapter in nineteen ninety 00:13:06.351 --> 00:13:06.552 two, 00:13:06.611 --> 00:13:09.414 I spoke to a Senate chairperson of a 00:13:09.434 --> 00:13:11.576 committee and he told me two things. 00:13:11.957 --> 00:13:14.779 One was that the chapter relied too much 00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:16.201 on its lobbyists and it needed to get 00:13:16.261 --> 00:13:17.763 more PTs to the Capitol. 00:13:18.423 --> 00:13:20.466 So we've taken that to heart. 00:13:21.006 --> 00:13:21.727 The second, I said, 00:13:21.768 --> 00:13:22.548 how much does it take? 00:13:22.889 --> 00:13:24.490 And he said, we notice every one. 00:13:25.464 --> 00:13:26.245 If it's two, 00:13:26.544 --> 00:13:27.765 there's a staff person who's looking at 00:13:27.806 --> 00:13:27.905 it. 00:13:28.505 --> 00:13:29.547 If it's five, 00:13:29.746 --> 00:13:30.807 we have to have a position. 00:13:31.249 --> 00:13:33.671 And if it's ten, the revolution is coming. 00:13:33.730 --> 00:13:34.191 Ten. 00:13:34.871 --> 00:13:35.072 Ten. 00:13:35.172 --> 00:13:36.972 And a Senate district in Connecticut is 00:13:36.993 --> 00:13:39.115 about, I think it's eighty thousand, 00:13:39.134 --> 00:13:39.554 is that right? 00:13:40.035 --> 00:13:42.157 I think that's right. 00:13:42.177 --> 00:13:42.298 Ten. 00:13:42.317 --> 00:13:42.658 Ten emails. 00:13:43.258 --> 00:13:43.759 Ten. 00:13:44.178 --> 00:13:44.379 Now, 00:13:44.538 --> 00:13:46.201 there are issues where that comes out. 00:13:46.942 --> 00:13:48.303 differently like if it's something that's 00:13:48.323 --> 00:13:49.865 on the front page of the newspaper or 00:13:49.965 --> 00:13:51.546 in your in your you know seven a.m 00:13:51.586 --> 00:13:53.466 news broadcast it's going to take more 00:13:53.486 --> 00:13:55.288 than ten right most of the stuff we 00:13:55.328 --> 00:13:58.671 work on can get you noticed damn ten 00:13:59.431 --> 00:14:00.932 in connecticut passed pt compact 00:14:01.011 --> 00:14:03.734 legislation a few years ago we generated 00:14:04.315 --> 00:14:07.076 letter emails to probably twenty five 00:14:07.677 --> 00:14:09.217 house and senate districts from where our 00:14:09.317 --> 00:14:10.239 committee leadership was 00:14:10.918 --> 00:14:12.620 And that committee chair referenced that 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:14.200 at every public meeting throughout the 00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:15.120 legislative process. 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:16.240 And when it passed, she said, 00:14:16.541 --> 00:14:17.561 we knew we had to do it because 00:14:17.961 --> 00:14:19.902 legislators cared and legislators cared 00:14:19.922 --> 00:14:20.981 because they heard from constituents. 00:14:21.241 --> 00:14:23.423 All right. 00:14:23.462 --> 00:14:23.783 Well, hey, 00:14:24.283 --> 00:14:25.344 optimistic about all the states that 00:14:25.364 --> 00:14:25.903 you're working with. 00:14:25.943 --> 00:14:27.804 Appreciate your time here at CSM and good 00:14:27.825 --> 00:14:28.485 to see you, man. 00:14:28.504 --> 00:14:28.945 Thanks, Jimmy.