From Clinic Shutdown to Capitol Testimony: How Two Montana PTs Took on Legislation

What happens when two rural physical therapists in Montana are forced to shut down their clinics during COVID? For Emily Herndon and Samantha Schmidt, it was the beginning of something much bigger—a journey into legislative advocacy that would change physical therapy in their state.

In this episode, they share how a telehealth billing loophole, a lawyer husband, and sheer necessity propelled them into leadership roles within the APTA. From drafting legal opinions to fighting for Medicaid reimbursement above Medicare rates, this conversation is packed with insight, strategy, and inspiration for any PT ready to make change.

If you’ve ever thought, “What can one PT really do?” — this episode is your answer.

Topics Covered:

• Discovering telehealth parity in Montana law
• Getting 40+ insurers to change how they reimburse PTs
• How to start advocating (even if you’ve never done it before)
• The dry needling legislation loss—and what it taught them
• Building a cost-per-visit case to fight for better Medicaid rates
• The importance of showing up and being “at the table”

Guests:

• Emily Herndon, PT
• Samantha Schmidt, PT

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