Ami Faria

Honorable Committee Members, I am a practicing physical therapist in New Hampshire and I also serve as the VP of Regulatory and Compliance for Powerback Rehabilitation. In this role, I oversee care for some of our state’s most frail citizens—individuals for whom even a minor delay in treatment can result in a permanent loss of independence. I respectfully request your support for SB480. At Powerback, we witness the detrimental impact of preauthorization delays on a daily basis. This legislation is a critical step toward ensuring that New Hampshire patients receive the timely, uninterrupted care they deserve. The current administrative requirements for authorization of therapy services have reached an unsustainable level, creating a barrier between providers and their patients. Recent data from New Hampshire outpatient practices highlights the severity of this issue: Treatment Delays: 90% of providers report delays in treatment initiation, with 40% waiting five business days or longer for a decision. Patient Safety Risks: Most alarmingly, over 41% of practices reported at least one adverse event occurring while a patient was stuck in the preauthorization queue. Administrative Exhaustion: Over 97% of providers report a moderate to high administrative burden, with 80% of practices requiring dedicated staff solely to manage these requests. Impact on New Hampshire’s Vulnerable Populations For the frail citizens we serve, therapy is not elective—it is the determining factor in whether a patient can safely remain in their home, avoid surgery, or prevent a life-altering fall. When we are forced to navigate bureaucratic hurdles instead of providing immediate intervention, the results include functional decline, increased medical visits, and higher long-term healthcare costs. SB480 is a balanced, evidence-informed solution. It recognizes that early intervention is the most effective way to support patient recovery and reduce the overall cost of care. I urge you to support SB480 to remove these unnecessary barriers and allow New Hampshire’s therapists to return our focus where it belongs: on delivering high-quality, life-changing care to our patients. Respectfully, Ami E. R. Faria PT, DPT VP of Regulatory and Compliance, Powerback Rehabilitation