Here are some key questions and answers about PTPN’s Outcomes Program, the latest initiative to set PTPN providers apart from the competition.

To access more helpful hints and tools, click here for our Outcomes Toolkit.

For more information, contact your PTPN Provider Services Representative or PTPN Regional Office, or click here to ask a question about the PTPN Outcomes Program.

Q: What is the PTPN Outcomes Program?

A: It’s a mandatory outcomes measurement program for PTPN members. PTPN has selected FOTO as the software engine to run the program; patients complete computerized surveys at intake and discharge, which are uploaded to FOTO for comparison to a national database. Both PTPN and your office each receive reports back from FOTO.

Q: Why is PTPN launching the program? What are the benefits?

A: There are many benefits for our members:

• Outcomes will help us deliver better services to and improve our relationships with payers. The ability to report patients’ functional improvement and use of resources, and compare results against national data, allows us to demonstrate that PTPN’s QA Program translates into better outcomes more efficiently. In addition, the more efficient you are, the lower the cost of the overall case; payers are likely to view us more favorably. This is why PTPN has already captured the attention of payers with this program, and we are either discussing or implementing innovative new programs in various states.
• Outcomes will give payers a better alternative to other medical management systems. We need to be able to compete with organizations that are offering to measure and control utilization for payers. Our Outcomes Program is a better alternative because it focuses on the patient’s actual improvement, not just arbitrary utilization limits.
• Outcomes will make your office more competitive. The data you collect will allow you to give physicians, case managers, adjustors and patients specific information about why you are better than your competitors. You’ll have much more compelling and effective marketing messages than other competitors who don’t have data to back up their assertions. Click here to access our Outcomes Toolkit, which includes templates of reports that can show payers and physicians how you perform compared to national benchmarks.

The use of the PTPN Outcomes Program has greatly improved my patient management processes ... We now use it to assess all our patients. The functional health questions are particularly helpful in establishing pre- and post-treatment efficacy, as well as gauging patient progress throughout the patient’s treatment.
Paul H. Martines, PT, MPT, OCS Physical Therapy Dynamics Madera, CA PTPN Member Since 2005

• Outcomes will give you information to improve your practice. You’ll be able to identify your practice’s strengths, as well as areas where you can improve.
• Outcomes will prepare you for coming developments like Pay-for-Performance (P4P). Medicare, which has specifically endorsed FOTO, and other payers are moving toward P4P, report cards and other quality measurement and reward systems. Launching our Outcomes Program now allows us to prepare for those systems and to have a voice in what happens — rather than waiting for others to force new and burdensome requirements upon us.