Our coalitions are listed in the following categories.

Advocacy coalitions: APTA often works with other organizations on mutually beneficial legislation and regulations for the betterment of the health care system, the physical therapy profession, and the patients we serve. For information on any of the coalitions, please review the links and information below or contact advocacy@apta.org.

Payment coalitions: APTA often works with other organizations on initiatives of mutual interest in proposed care and payment models, ensuring the inclusion of physical therapy where appropriate. For information on any of the coalitions, please review the links and information below or contact advocacy@apta.org.

Practice coalitions: APTA often works with other organizations on initiatives of mutual interest or benefit to physical therapy and like professions, and our patients. For information on any of the coalitions, please review the links and information below or contact practice-dept@apta.org.

Advocacy Coalitions

Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders
The Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders is a nonprofit multidisciplinary trade association of medical specialty societies and clinical associations. The alliance promotes quality care and access to products and services for people with wounds, through advocacy and educational outreach in the regulatory, legislative, and public arenas. APTA works with the alliance on an ongoing basis in the form of submitting comments to legislative bodies and regulatory agencies.

Alliance for Balanced Pain Management
The Alliance for Balanced Pain Management (AfBPM) is a diverse collective of health care advocacy groups, patient organizations, industry representatives and other stakeholders who organize to:

• Ensure people with or affected by pain have appropriate access to integrated, effective and safe care across the continuum of care, and raise awareness of the need for individualized treatment such as physical therapy, rehabilitation, psychological counseling, social support, and other complementary approaches and multimodal analgesia; which can help prevent opioid-related adverse events such as falls, constipation and other potential issues.
• Reinforce the critical need to safely prescribe, dispense, take, store and dispose of prescription medicines with an aim to reduce abuse, misuse and diversion.

Allied Against Opioid Abuse
Allied Against Opioid Abuse is a national education and awareness initiative to help prevent abuse and misuse of prescription opioids. Their goal is to contribute to solving the opioid crisis in a meaningful way by serving as a centralized information resource, providing education and creating awareness.

Better Medicare Alliance
The Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) is a coalition of advocacy organizations, aging service agencies, plans, providers, retiree organizations, and beneficiaries. BMA Allies, as these organizations are called, commit to the mission of BMA to support and sustain Medicare Advantage (MA) as an option in Medicare. Allies agree to work with BMA to promote the value of MA as the part of Medicare that offers health coverage that is comprehensive, high quality, affordable, and valued by Medicare beneficiaries for the enhanced benefits, affordability, simplicity, and care coordination it offers.

Coalition for Patients' Rights
APTA is a founding member of the Coalition for Patients’ Rights and continues to work with its member organizations to oppose efforts by the American Medical Association and other physician organizations to limit nonphysician scopes of practice.

Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation
The Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation (CPR) is a national coalition of consumer, clinician, and membership organizations with the goal of preserving access to rehabilitation services. CPR advocates for policies that ensure access to rehabilitative care so that individuals with disabilities, injuries, or chronic conditions may regain and/or maintain their maximum level of independent function. APTA works with CPR on an ongoing basis in the form of submitting comments to legislative bodies and regulatory agencies, and engaging in congressional briefings and Capitol Hill visits.

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) comprises consumer, advocacy, provider, and professional organizations. Since 1973, CCD has advocated on behalf of people of all ages with physical and mental disabilities and their families. CCD has worked to achieve federal legislation and regulations to ensure that the 54 million children and adults with disabilities are fully integrated into the mainstream of society. APTA participates in CCD’s legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts to protect the health and long-term care needs of children and adults with disabilities.

Disability and Research Rehabilitation Coalition
The Disability and Research Rehabilitation Coalition (DRRC) comprises national nonprofit organizations committed to improving the state of rehabilitation and disability. DRRC plays a leadership role in increasing and leveraging federal resources devoted to disability and rehabilitation research. APTA works with the coalition on an ongoing basis in the form of submitting comments to legislative bodies and regulatory agencies, and attending meetings with agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, and Capitol Hill meetings.

Eldercare Workforce Alliance
The Eldercare Workforce Alliance is a group of 31 national organizations, representing consumers, family caregivers, the direct-care workforce, and healthcare professionals, joined together to address the immediate and future workforce crisis in caring for an aging America. The Alliance works to build a caring and competent eldercare workforce, joining in partnership with older adults, their families and other unpaid caregivers – to provide high-quality, culturally-sensitive, person-directed, family-focused care, and improve the quality of life for older adults and their families. APTA work with the Alliance to propose practical solutions to policymakers to strengthen our eldercare workforce and improve the quality of care.

Friends of HRSA
The Friends of the Health Resources and Services Administration is an advocacy coalition of more than 175 national organizations, collectively representing millions of public health and health care professionals, academicians and consumers. Member organizations strongly support the programs at HRSA designed to improve health and health equity by strengthening the health workforce and increasing access to quality health care for those who are medically underserved or face barriers to needed care.

Habilitation Benefits Coalition
The Habilitation Benefits (HAB) Coalition is a group of organizations that independently support habilitative services and devices. The coalition coordinates, sustains, and aggressively promotes a unified voice that is making a material impact on the contents of the federal guidance that states use to make decisions involving essential health benefits, particularly around habilitation benefits. APTA works with the HAB Coalition on an ongoing basis in the form of submitting comments to legislative bodies and regulatory agencies, and engaging in congressional briefings and Capitol Hill visits. 

Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network
The Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network was launched by the US Department of Health and Human Services to accelerate the health care system’s transition to alternative payment models. The network comprises public and private stakeholders including health plans, providers, patients, employers, consumers, states, and federal agencies within the health care community. APTA is part of the "Committed Partner" program which is a designation for organizations that have made a commitment to the LAN regarding their goals and activities to accelerate effective alternative payment method (APM) adoption. LAN Committed Partners are encouraged to implement or utilize LAN recommendations and provide feedback to the LAN.

Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid Coalition
The Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition is devoted to raising awareness and building support for policies that will enhance access to assistive devices, technologies, and related services for people with disabilities and chronic conditions. The coalition is consumer-led and includes disability organizations, aging organizations, other consumer groups; voluntary health associations; and nonprofit provider associations. APTA works with the ITEM Coalition on an ongoing basis in the form of submitting comments to legislative bodies and regulatory agencies, and engaging in congressional briefings and Capitol Hill visits.

National Alliance of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel
The National Alliance of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (NASISP) represents over a million specialized instructional support personnel nationwide, seeking to empower them by encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration and affirming their roles in educational best practices and their involvement in school improvement efforts. APTA works with NASISP in advocating for the students and families who deserve and can benefit from specialized instructional support services.

National Association of Rehabilitation Providers and Agencies
The National Association of Rehab Providers and Agencies (NARA) represents more than 45,000 therapists, rehab providers, and rehab support organizations across the country including rehab agencies, private practices, schools, athletic organizations, inpatient and adult living facilities, and skilled nursing facilities. The mission is to share knowledge, support, and resources in the rehabilitation industry to combine clinical excellence with successful business management. APTA works with NARA on an ongoing basis in the form of submitting comments to legislative bodies and regulatory agencies, and engaging in Capitol Hill visits. APTA also attends and presents at the NARA spring and fall conferences.

National Black Caucus of State Legislators
The National Black Caucus of State Legislatures represents the interests of African American state legislators. Its primary mission is to develop, conduct, and promote educational, research, and training programs designed to enhance the effectiveness of its members, as they consider legislation and issues of public policy that impact the general welfare of African American constituents within their respective jurisdictions. APTA is a member of the caucus’s Corporate Round Table, which represents members of business, associations, and nonprofit organizations.

National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services (NCPSSERS)
This national coalition is comprised of more than 30 participating member organizations. For 10 years NCPSSERS has been dedicated to addressing the issue of shortages in special education and related services personnel in schools. The mission of NCPSSERS is to sustain a discussion among all stakeholders on the need for and value of special education, related services, and early intervention; and to identify, disseminate, and support implementation of national, state, and local strategies to remedy personnel shortages and persistent vacancies for the benefit of all children and youth.

National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) represents state legislators and legislative staff. APTA is a featured exhibitor at the annual NCSL Legislative Summit.

Observation Stays Coalition
The Observation Stays Coalition, comprising more than 30 organizations, supports legislative and regulatory efforts to resolve the skilled nursing facility 3-day rule. APTA works with the coalition on an ongoing basis in the form of submitting comments to legislative bodies and regulatory agencies, and conducting Capitol Hill visits.

Patients' Access to Responsible Care Alliance
The Patients' Access to Responsible Care Alliance (PARCA) represents the interests of nearly 1 million nonphysician health care providers and the millions of patients that they serve across the country. APTA works with PARCA to ensure that there is provider non-discrimination through advocacy and comments to regulatory agencies.

National Quality Forum
The National Quality Forum (NQF) is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan, membership-based organization that endorses quality measures, and reviews and provides guidance on quality measures that are included in federal payment programs. APTA is a member organization of NQF. APTA participates in various steering committees and the Measure Applications Partnership, as well as attending the annual NQF conference.

Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement
The Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement comprises providers, patients, professional societies, health plans, and vendors that collaborate to advance measurement science, quality improvement, and clinical registries. The National Quality Registry Network, a group within the PCPI, is the networking group for quality registries such as APTA's Physical Therapy Outcomes Registry. APTA is a member organization of PCPI and NQRN. APTA currently holds a seat on the PCPI Board and participates in various PCPI and NQRN activities including membership meetings.

Payment Coalitions

Health Care Transformation Task Force
The Health Care Transformation Task Force (HCTTF) is a consortium of patients, payers, providers, and purchasers. This group works with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to accelerate the pace of delivery system transformation in health care. While professional associations are not members, they are invited to participate in designated work groups, and APTA participates in the Bundled Payment Work Group and the High-Cost Patient Work Group. Participation in these work groups provides APTA with access to information, resources, and the ability to collaborate on proposed care and payment models, ensuring the inclusion of physical therapy where appropriate.

National Rural Health Association
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is a national nonprofit membership association of individuals and organizations that provides leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education, and research. A significant number of APTA members practice in rural settings. Participation in this association enables APTA to represent the interests of these providers and to advocate for access to care for individuals in rural communities.

Practice Coalitions

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. It is committed to improving health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education, and advocacy. APTA collaborates with the academy on areas related to health promotion, prevention, and nutrition education.

CARF
CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. Through accreditation, CARF helps service providers improve the quality of their services, demonstrate value, and meet internationally recognized organizational and program standards. Accreditation is an ongoing process, signaling to the public that a service provider is committed to continuously improving services, encouraging feedback, and serving the community. APTA is part of CARF's International Advisory Committee and contributes to reviews of proposed and revised standards.

Commission for Motion Laboratory Accreditation
The Commission for Motion Laboratory Accreditation Inc (CMLA) is a nonprofit organization established and operated to evaluate and accredit clinical motion laboratories by a set of standard criteria. APTA appoints members to 2 seats on the CMLA Board of Directors.

Falls Free Initiative
The Falls Free Initiative is a national effort led by the National Council on Aging to address the growing public health issue of falls-related injuries and deaths in older adults. APTA primarily is involved with the initiative’s Advocacy Work Group and the promotion of the annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day.

Movement is Life Coalition
Movement is Life is a multidisciplinary coalition seeking to eliminate disparities in muscle and joint health among women and racial/ethnic minorities. It does so by raising awareness of the impact of disparities on chronic disease management and quality of life, and by promoting the importance of early intervention to slow musculoskeletal disease progression, reduce disability, and encourage physical activity and daily movement to improve the overall health of the nation. APTA is on the coalition's Steering Committee.

National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) works to improve the health of the public by strengthening state-based leadership and expertise for chronic disease prevention and control in states and at the national level. APTA works with NACDD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide resources on evidence-based community programs for individuals with arthritis.

Physical Activity Alliance
The National Physical Activity Plan Alliance, The National Physical Activity Society, and The National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity merged as the foundation for the Physical Activity Alliance - a new, broadly based, powerful voice for physical activity promotion in our country. We invite you to join us.

The Alliance combines deep expertise in policy advocacy, strategic planning, and workforce development to address physical activity. We connect planning to policy and advocacy as well as to professionals promoting public health approaches to physical activity.

Their Mission:
The mission of the Physical Activity Alliance is to lead efforts to create, support, and advocate policy and system changes that enable all Americans to enjoy physically active lives.

Osteoarthritis Action Alliance
The Osteoarthritis (OA) Action Alliance is a national coalition of concerned organizations mobilized by the Arthritis Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The coalition is committed to elevating OA as a national health priority and promoting effective policy solutions that aim to address the individual and national toll of OA. In addition, the OA Action Alliance, with the public health community, is working to ensure that people with OA have the access, skills, and capacity to benefit from effective and proven interventions. APTA is a member organization and is involved in the "mobilize health systems and health care professionals work group to proactively identify and comprehensively address OA in clinical care (e.g., decision prompts, pain management, physical activity, referral to community-based programs).

Safe and Sound Initiative
APTA has joined OSHA's Safe and Sound Campaign, which promotes safe workplaces and the development of safety and health programs in the workplace. Successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, improving sustainability and the bottom line. As part of the campaign, every year, OSHA hosts a nationwide event to raise awareness and understanding of the value of safety and health programs that include management leadership, worker participation, and a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards in workplaces.

The Joint Commission
The Joint Commission is an independent organization that accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards. The Joint Commission’s mission is to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. APTA has member representatives on the Joint Commission professional technical advisory committees for the ambulatory care, nursing care center, hospital, and home care programs.

The Bone and Joint Initiative
The United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) is the US network of the Global Bone and Joint Decade, a multidisciplinary initiative targeting the care of people with musculoskeletal conditions (bone and joint disorders). Its focus is on improving quality of life by advancing the understanding and treatment of those conditions through research, prevention, and education. APTA is a founding member of USBJI and has a seat on the Board of Directors. APTA members have access to all the resources available on the USBJI website.