APTA is gearing up for this year's APTA Federal Advocacy Forum, where members will have the opportunity to go to Capitol Hill to advocate on key legislation affecting the profession, including patient access to care, student loan forgiveness via the National Health Service Corps, prior authorization, and the proposal by Medicare to cut reimbursement to physical therapy in 2021.

But the advocacy trip is just one part of the forum: The event also features educational sessions and opportunities to hear from speakers with important insights on political action and advocacy. This year's speaker lineup includes:

Paul Begala. Begala, the forum's keynote speaker, is a political analyst and commentator at CNN. An affiliated professor of public policy at Georgetown University, Begala served as counselor to President Bill Clinton.

Bradford Fitch. Monday's breakfast will feature Bradford Fitch, president and CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that advises congressional offices on how to improve operations and advises citizens on how to improve communications to Congress. Fitch has spent 30 years in Washington as a journalist, congressional aide, consultant, college instructor, internet entrepreneur, and writer/researcher. Fitch is the author of several books, including Citizen’s Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials and Media Relations Handbook for Agencies, Associations, Nonprofits and Congress.

Theresa Marko, PT, DPT, MS. Theresa Marko is one of the profession's most dynamic advocates. Marko is a member of APTA's Public Policy & Advocacy Committee, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists’ Practice Committee, and the Private Practice Section's Government Affairs Committee. Marko regularly goes to the District of Columbia and her state capitol in Albany to lobby for issues important to the physical therapy profession. She has been a guest speaker on patient and physical therapist advocacy at Columbia University and LaGuardia College, and recently authored a blog post for APTA on the importance of advocacy.

Thomas Barba, PT, MPT. An active leader and volunteer in the profession, Barba serves as Federal Affairs Liaison for the Michigan chapter of APTA, Federal Advocacy Key Contact for the APTA and the Private Practice Section, and a member of the PPS Annual Conference Program Work Group. In addition, Barba is a member of the Michigan chapter board of directors and serves on the advisory boards for Delta College PTA Program and Bay Area ISD for Health Professionals.

If you're in the mood for a little pre-Forum inspiration don't miss this great read from a veteran advocate Eva Norman, PT, DPT, "You Cannot Complain if You're Not Involved."