Kara is the director of regulatory affairs at APTA. She joined APTA in 2017 and provider leadership and strategic direction to the regulatory affairs team on key programs, initiatives, and policy development in the federal regulatory space. She has extensive knowledge and experience working on policies related to Medicare, Medicaid, health care reform, and provider billing and reimbursement. Prior to joining APTA, she was a health care consultant with Drinker Biddle and Reath, where she developed and executed comprehensive public policy strategies for her clients that integrated legislative, regulatory, and communications efforts. She also served as an attorney advisor for the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals, and she clerked with the US Senate Sergeant at Arms. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Montana and law degree from the University of Montana School of Law, and is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.

Matt Elrod, PT, DPT, MEd, is lead specialist in APTA’s Practice Department. He is liaison to various external organizations, contributes to policy development in the advancement of the profession, develops member resources in evidence-based practice, ICD-10 transition, telehealth, adoption of electronic health records, and integration of the Physical Therapy Outcomes Registry. He has more than 20 years of experience in the physical therapy profession, and earned a physical therapy degree from the Medical University of South Carolina, a doctor of physical therapy degree from Marymount University, and a master of education degree from the Citadel in exercise physiology. He is a board-certified clinical specialist in neurologic physical therapy.