Physician Ownership
Position Statement

Rehabilitation Network of Arkansas was founded on the premise of promoting the continued success of the independent therapist while striving to maintain and enhance their viability as health care providers in an ever-changing health care environment. We believe that independent therapists are uniquely qualified to lead the health care profession into the 21st century because of our proven ability to provide cost-effective services in a professional and personal manner.

Because of our beliefs, Rehab Net stands firm in our belief that physician ownership of physical, occupational and speech therapy facilities is wrong. To clarify this belief, Rehab Net adopts the following position:

1. The first priority should always be what is best for the patient and what the patient wants. It should not be about financial arrangements.
   
2. Rehab Net continues to maintain a public policy position based on our ethical standards relative to arrangements between referring practitioners and physical therapists where the referring practitioner benefits economically from the provision of physical therapy.
   
3. Rehab Net opposes such arrangements---opposition based on the increase potential for abuse inherent in such arrangements and the lack of any need for these arrangements to ensure effective and appropriate provision of physical therapy care.
   
4. Rehab Net maintains the position that any member who sells any portion of their practice to a physician will no longer be eligible for membership.
   
5. Rehab Net further maintains that any member who creates a financial arrangement with a physician for referrals will be immediately expelled from the organization.