Andrew Amari, JD, is a specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit, advocating on regulatory policy issues affecting physical therapists in a variety of practice settings. Before joining the association in March 2022, Andrew was a regulatory analyst at the Association of American Medical Colleges, focusing on hospital payment and graduate medical education policy issues. Andrew received a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University and a JD from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. He is a member of the Wisconsin Bar.

Alice is on staff as senior payment specialist in the Payment and Practice Management Department of the APTA. She received a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and a doctor of physical therapy degree from the University of Montana. Her specialties include integrated care delivery models, post-acute care, and long-term care. A board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy, she has lectured and written many articles on topics related to physical therapy and the older adult. She has spent the majority of her career in post-acute care and long-term care settings and has more than 36 years of experience as a physical therapist. Her professional activities include serving as a member of the National Quality Partnership Opioid Stewardship Steering Committee, co-leader of the NQF Opioid Stewardship Member Workgroup, APTA appointee to the NDHI Opioid Crisis Workgroup, APTA appointee to the National Quality Partnership Opioid Stewardship Action Team, Member of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Technical Expert Panel for Skilled Nursing Alternative Payment Systems, Appointee to the National Quality Forum (NQF) for Long Term Care Quality Measures, Member of the Steering Committee for NQF's National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Nursing Home Project, and representative of the Coalition of Rehab Therapy Organizations’ Joint Commission’s Long Term Care Professional and Technical Advisory Committee.

Wanda K. Evans, PT, DPT, MHS, is a senior payment specialist at APTA. Her responsibilities include communicating with members and insurers on inquiries regarding third-party, billing, CPT coding, and payment policies; providing resources in policy development; monitoring trends; and assisting in association efforts to advance payment policies. She remains a treating clinician in the outpatient setting. Before joining APTA, she was the clinical documentation and utilization review coordinator for Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital Network. Prior to that she was the supervisor of physical therapist and occupational therapist services for Kaiser Permanente Mid Atlantic. She has been an APTA member since she was a student. She received her bachelor of physical therapy and doctor of physical therapy degrees from Howard University, and a master of health science degree in orthopedic and sports physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis. She also is a certified kinesio taping practitioner. 

Rachel Miller, MPH, is a health policy and payment specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit as of August 2022. Rachel advocates to federal regulators on policy issues that affect the physical therapy profession. Before joining the association, she was working towards her master's degree in health policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While continuing her education, Rachel showed community members how to obtain health insurance as Certified Application Counselor in a student-run clinic. Before that, she helped stop the spread of COVID-19 as a case investigator at a local health department. She obtained her bachelor's degree in public health from the University of South Florida.

Stacey Schwartz, DPT, JD, joined APTA's Health Policy and Payment team as a Sr. Specialist in 2025. Prior to joining the Health Policy and Payment team, Stacey worked on APTA's practice team. Before that, she practiced primarily business litigation as an attorney and then sports and outpatient orthopedics as a PT for six years.

Sharon West, JD, joined APTA as Director, Commercial Payment and Policy in late 2024 and now serves as Vice President, Health Policy and Payment encompassing both commercial payment and federal regulatory affairs as of January 2025. Prior to joining APTA, Sharon was Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the American Clinical Laboratory Association. She also served as Director, Economic & Regulatory Affairs at the College of American Pathologists. Prior to her roles with associations, she was Senior Corporate Counsel for WellCare Health Plans. She also led negotiations and managed relationships with key health systems, hospitals, facilities, physicians, and other providers for Aetna, NYLCare Health Plans, and Prudential Insurance Company. She received a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (Ohio) and her law degree from George Mason University School of Law. She is a member of the Virginia bar.

Andrew Amari, JD, is a specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit, advocating on regulatory policy issues affecting physical therapists in a variety of practice settings. Before joining the association in March 2022, Andrew was a regulatory analyst at the Association of American Medical Colleges, focusing on hospital payment and graduate medical education policy issues. Andrew received a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University and a JD from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. He is a member of the Wisconsin Bar.

Alice is on staff as senior payment specialist in the Payment and Practice Management Department of the APTA. She received a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and a doctor of physical therapy degree from the University of Montana. Her specialties include integrated care delivery models, post-acute care, and long-term care. A board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy, she has lectured and written many articles on topics related to physical therapy and the older adult. She has spent the majority of her career in post-acute care and long-term care settings and has more than 36 years of experience as a physical therapist. Her professional activities include serving as a member of the National Quality Partnership Opioid Stewardship Steering Committee, co-leader of the NQF Opioid Stewardship Member Workgroup, APTA appointee to the NDHI Opioid Crisis Workgroup, APTA appointee to the National Quality Partnership Opioid Stewardship Action Team, Member of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Technical Expert Panel for Skilled Nursing Alternative Payment Systems, Appointee to the National Quality Forum (NQF) for Long Term Care Quality Measures, Member of the Steering Committee for NQF's National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Nursing Home Project, and representative of the Coalition of Rehab Therapy Organizations’ Joint Commission’s Long Term Care Professional and Technical Advisory Committee.

Wanda K. Evans, PT, DPT, MHS, is a senior payment specialist at APTA. Her responsibilities include communicating with members and insurers on inquiries regarding third-party, billing, CPT coding, and payment policies; providing resources in policy development; monitoring trends; and assisting in association efforts to advance payment policies. She remains a treating clinician in the outpatient setting. Before joining APTA, she was the clinical documentation and utilization review coordinator for Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital Network. Prior to that she was the supervisor of physical therapist and occupational therapist services for Kaiser Permanente Mid Atlantic. She has been an APTA member since she was a student. She received her bachelor of physical therapy and doctor of physical therapy degrees from Howard University, and a master of health science degree in orthopedic and sports physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis. She also is a certified kinesio taping practitioner. 

Rachel Miller, MPH, is a health policy and payment specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit as of August 2022. Rachel advocates to federal regulators on policy issues that affect the physical therapy profession. Before joining the association, she was working towards her master's degree in health policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While continuing her education, Rachel showed community members how to obtain health insurance as Certified Application Counselor in a student-run clinic. Before that, she helped stop the spread of COVID-19 as a case investigator at a local health department. She obtained her bachelor's degree in public health from the University of South Florida.

Stacey Schwartz, DPT, JD, joined APTA's Health Policy and Payment team as a Sr. Specialist in 2025. Prior to joining the Health Policy and Payment team, Stacey worked on APTA's practice team. Before that, she practiced primarily business litigation as an attorney and then sports and outpatient orthopedics as a PT for six years.

Sharon West, JD, joined APTA as Director, Commercial Payment and Policy in late 2024 and now serves as Vice President, Health Policy and Payment encompassing both commercial payment and federal regulatory affairs as of January 2025. Prior to joining APTA, Sharon was Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the American Clinical Laboratory Association. She also served as Director, Economic & Regulatory Affairs at the College of American Pathologists. Prior to her roles with associations, she was Senior Corporate Counsel for WellCare Health Plans. She also led negotiations and managed relationships with key health systems, hospitals, facilities, physicians, and other providers for Aetna, NYLCare Health Plans, and Prudential Insurance Company. She received a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (Ohio) and her law degree from George Mason University School of Law. She is a member of the Virginia bar.

Andrew Amari, JD, is a specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit, advocating on regulatory policy issues affecting physical therapists in a variety of practice settings. Before joining the association in March 2022, Andrew was a regulatory analyst at the Association of American Medical Colleges, focusing on hospital payment and graduate medical education policy issues. Andrew received a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University and a JD from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. He is a member of the Wisconsin Bar.

Alice is on staff as senior payment specialist in the Payment and Practice Management Department of the APTA. She received a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and a doctor of physical therapy degree from the University of Montana. Her specialties include integrated care delivery models, post-acute care, and long-term care. A board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy, she has lectured and written many articles on topics related to physical therapy and the older adult. She has spent the majority of her career in post-acute care and long-term care settings and has more than 36 years of experience as a physical therapist. Her professional activities include serving as a member of the National Quality Partnership Opioid Stewardship Steering Committee, co-leader of the NQF Opioid Stewardship Member Workgroup, APTA appointee to the NDHI Opioid Crisis Workgroup, APTA appointee to the National Quality Partnership Opioid Stewardship Action Team, Member of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Technical Expert Panel for Skilled Nursing Alternative Payment Systems, Appointee to the National Quality Forum (NQF) for Long Term Care Quality Measures, Member of the Steering Committee for NQF's National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Nursing Home Project, and representative of the Coalition of Rehab Therapy Organizations’ Joint Commission’s Long Term Care Professional and Technical Advisory Committee.

Wanda K. Evans, PT, DPT, MHS, is a senior payment specialist at APTA. Her responsibilities include communicating with members and insurers on inquiries regarding third-party, billing, CPT coding, and payment policies; providing resources in policy development; monitoring trends; and assisting in association efforts to advance payment policies. She remains a treating clinician in the outpatient setting. Before joining APTA, she was the clinical documentation and utilization review coordinator for Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital Network. Prior to that she was the supervisor of physical therapist and occupational therapist services for Kaiser Permanente Mid Atlantic. She has been an APTA member since she was a student. She received her bachelor of physical therapy and doctor of physical therapy degrees from Howard University, and a master of health science degree in orthopedic and sports physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis. She also is a certified kinesio taping practitioner. 

Rachel Miller, MPH, is a health policy and payment specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit as of August 2022. Rachel advocates to federal regulators on policy issues that affect the physical therapy profession. Before joining the association, she was working towards her master's degree in health policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While continuing her education, Rachel showed community members how to obtain health insurance as Certified Application Counselor in a student-run clinic. Before that, she helped stop the spread of COVID-19 as a case investigator at a local health department. She obtained her bachelor's degree in public health from the University of South Florida.

Stacey Schwartz, DPT, JD, joined APTA's Health Policy and Payment team as a Sr. Specialist in 2025. Prior to joining the Health Policy and Payment team, Stacey worked on APTA's practice team. Before that, she practiced primarily business litigation as an attorney and then sports and outpatient orthopedics as a PT for six years.

Sharon West, JD, joined APTA as Director, Commercial Payment and Policy in late 2024 and now serves as Vice President, Health Policy and Payment encompassing both commercial payment and federal regulatory affairs as of January 2025. Prior to joining APTA, Sharon was Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the American Clinical Laboratory Association. She also served as Director, Economic & Regulatory Affairs at the College of American Pathologists. Prior to her roles with associations, she was Senior Corporate Counsel for WellCare Health Plans. She also led negotiations and managed relationships with key health systems, hospitals, facilities, physicians, and other providers for Aetna, NYLCare Health Plans, and Prudential Insurance Company. She received a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (Ohio) and her law degree from George Mason University School of Law. She is a member of the Virginia bar.

Andrew Amari, JD, is a specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit, advocating on regulatory policy issues affecting physical therapists in a variety of practice settings. Before joining the association in March 2022, Andrew was a regulatory analyst at the Association of American Medical Colleges, focusing on hospital payment and graduate medical education policy issues. Andrew received a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University and a JD from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. He is a member of the Wisconsin Bar.

Alice is on staff as senior payment specialist in the Payment and Practice Management Department of the APTA. She received a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and a doctor of physical therapy degree from the University of Montana. Her specialties include integrated care delivery models, post-acute care, and long-term care. A board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy, she has lectured and written many articles on topics related to physical therapy and the older adult. She has spent the majority of her career in post-acute care and long-term care settings and has more than 36 years of experience as a physical therapist. Her professional activities include serving as a member of the National Quality Partnership Opioid Stewardship Steering Committee, co-leader of the NQF Opioid Stewardship Member Workgroup, APTA appointee to the NDHI Opioid Crisis Workgroup, APTA appointee to the National Quality Partnership Opioid Stewardship Action Team, Member of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Technical Expert Panel for Skilled Nursing Alternative Payment Systems, Appointee to the National Quality Forum (NQF) for Long Term Care Quality Measures, Member of the Steering Committee for NQF's National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Nursing Home Project, and representative of the Coalition of Rehab Therapy Organizations’ Joint Commission’s Long Term Care Professional and Technical Advisory Committee.

Wanda K. Evans, PT, DPT, MHS, is a senior payment specialist at APTA. Her responsibilities include communicating with members and insurers on inquiries regarding third-party, billing, CPT coding, and payment policies; providing resources in policy development; monitoring trends; and assisting in association efforts to advance payment policies. She remains a treating clinician in the outpatient setting. Before joining APTA, she was the clinical documentation and utilization review coordinator for Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital Network. Prior to that she was the supervisor of physical therapist and occupational therapist services for Kaiser Permanente Mid Atlantic. She has been an APTA member since she was a student. She received her bachelor of physical therapy and doctor of physical therapy degrees from Howard University, and a master of health science degree in orthopedic and sports physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis. She also is a certified kinesio taping practitioner. 

Rachel Miller, MPH, is a health policy and payment specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit as of August 2022. Rachel advocates to federal regulators on policy issues that affect the physical therapy profession. Before joining the association, she was working towards her master's degree in health policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While continuing her education, Rachel showed community members how to obtain health insurance as Certified Application Counselor in a student-run clinic. Before that, she helped stop the spread of COVID-19 as a case investigator at a local health department. She obtained her bachelor's degree in public health from the University of South Florida.

Stacey Schwartz, DPT, JD, joined APTA's Health Policy and Payment team as a Sr. Specialist in 2025. Prior to joining the Health Policy and Payment team, Stacey worked on APTA's practice team. Before that, she practiced primarily business litigation as an attorney and then sports and outpatient orthopedics as a PT for six years.

Sharon West, JD, joined APTA as Director, Commercial Payment and Policy in late 2024 and now serves as Vice President, Health Policy and Payment encompassing both commercial payment and federal regulatory affairs as of January 2025. Prior to joining APTA, Sharon was Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the American Clinical Laboratory Association. She also served as Director, Economic & Regulatory Affairs at the College of American Pathologists. Prior to her roles with associations, she was Senior Corporate Counsel for WellCare Health Plans. She also led negotiations and managed relationships with key health systems, hospitals, facilities, physicians, and other providers for Aetna, NYLCare Health Plans, and Prudential Insurance Company. She received a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (Ohio) and her law degree from George Mason University School of Law. She is a member of the Virginia bar.

Andrew Amari, JD, is a specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit, advocating on regulatory policy issues affecting physical therapists in a variety of practice settings. Before joining the association in March 2022, Andrew was a regulatory analyst at the Association of American Medical Colleges, focusing on hospital payment and graduate medical education policy issues. Andrew received a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University and a JD from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. He is a member of the Wisconsin Bar.

Alice is on staff as senior payment specialist in the Payment and Practice Management Department of the APTA. She received a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and a doctor of physical therapy degree from the University of Montana. Her specialties include integrated care delivery models, post-acute care, and long-term care. A board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy, she has lectured and written many articles on topics related to physical therapy and the older adult. She has spent the majority of her career in post-acute care and long-term care settings and has more than 36 years of experience as a physical therapist. Her professional activities include serving as a member of the National Quality Partnership Opioid Stewardship Steering Committee, co-leader of the NQF Opioid Stewardship Member Workgroup, APTA appointee to the NDHI Opioid Crisis Workgroup, APTA appointee to the National Quality Partnership Opioid Stewardship Action Team, Member of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Technical Expert Panel for Skilled Nursing Alternative Payment Systems, Appointee to the National Quality Forum (NQF) for Long Term Care Quality Measures, Member of the Steering Committee for NQF's National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Nursing Home Project, and representative of the Coalition of Rehab Therapy Organizations’ Joint Commission’s Long Term Care Professional and Technical Advisory Committee.

Wanda K. Evans, PT, DPT, MHS, is a senior payment specialist at APTA. Her responsibilities include communicating with members and insurers on inquiries regarding third-party, billing, CPT coding, and payment policies; providing resources in policy development; monitoring trends; and assisting in association efforts to advance payment policies. She remains a treating clinician in the outpatient setting. Before joining APTA, she was the clinical documentation and utilization review coordinator for Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital Network. Prior to that she was the supervisor of physical therapist and occupational therapist services for Kaiser Permanente Mid Atlantic. She has been an APTA member since she was a student. She received her bachelor of physical therapy and doctor of physical therapy degrees from Howard University, and a master of health science degree in orthopedic and sports physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis. She also is a certified kinesio taping practitioner. 

Rachel Miller, MPH, is a health policy and payment specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit as of August 2022. Rachel advocates to federal regulators on policy issues that affect the physical therapy profession. Before joining the association, she was working towards her master's degree in health policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While continuing her education, Rachel showed community members how to obtain health insurance as Certified Application Counselor in a student-run clinic. Before that, she helped stop the spread of COVID-19 as a case investigator at a local health department. She obtained her bachelor's degree in public health from the University of South Florida.

Stacey Schwartz, DPT, JD, joined APTA's Health Policy and Payment team as a Sr. Specialist in 2025. Prior to joining the Health Policy and Payment team, Stacey worked on APTA's practice team. Before that, she practiced primarily business litigation as an attorney and then sports and outpatient orthopedics as a PT for six years.

Sharon West, JD, joined APTA as Director, Commercial Payment and Policy in late 2024 and now serves as Vice President, Health Policy and Payment encompassing both commercial payment and federal regulatory affairs as of January 2025. Prior to joining APTA, Sharon was Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the American Clinical Laboratory Association. She also served as Director, Economic & Regulatory Affairs at the College of American Pathologists. Prior to her roles with associations, she was Senior Corporate Counsel for WellCare Health Plans. She also led negotiations and managed relationships with key health systems, hospitals, facilities, physicians, and other providers for Aetna, NYLCare Health Plans, and Prudential Insurance Company. She received a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (Ohio) and her law degree from George Mason University School of Law. She is a member of the Virginia bar.

Gwen Simons, Esq, PT, OCS, FAAOMPT is a healthcare lawyer at Simons & Associates Law in Scarborough, Maine. Her law firm caters to the needs of health care providers in private practice, representing providers in contract negotiations/disputes with payers and providing Medicare/HIPAA compliance and practice management consultation. She’s also been a fearless advocate for physical therapy issues, taking on the Goliath insurance carriers on prior authorization, payment, unfair contracting issues in Maine’s state legislature as the Maine Chapter APTA’s lobbyist. She has served on several PPS and AOPT Task forces on payment issues and is the 2023 recipient of the Maine Chapter’s President’s Service Award for her advocacy work to pass Maine legislation to prohibit insurance carrier prior authorization requirements before visit 12.