-
Telehealth for PT, OT and SLP services in SNFs Update June 2020
June 18, 2020
Categories: Best Practices, Collaboration, COVID-19, Long Term Care, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Regulatory Issues, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Telehealth, Telemedicine
Join Mark McDavid from Seagrove Rehab Partners and Sabrena McCarley with RehabCare as they describe considerations for telehealth use in SNFs to improve patient access to care, collaboration and clinical practice during this pandemic. Click here for their VLOG.
How can telehealth be used in SNFs? During a recent CMS "Office Hours" they communicated that their interim final rule as well as their FAQ for SNF providers did not say no. Victory! Therapists are telehealth... Read More
-
Gearing up for Group Therapy: Risks and Opportunities
July 11, 2019
Categories: Group Therapy, Payment Reform, PDPM, Skilled Nursing Facilities, SNF, Technology
How much group therapy should providers be aiming for when the clock strikes PDPM?
Based on my conversations with our clients, SNFs and therapy providers throughout the country, I’ve heard plans that range from ramping up rapidly, to gradually phasing it in over months or years.
There are good reasons to go in either direction, or anywhere in between.
Consider the financial uncertainty. Many SNFs just don’t know what their books will look like several... Read More
-
Sponsored Post: Therapy Providers: Now is the Time to Prepare for CMS’ Payment & Policy Changes for Skilled Nursing Facilities
July 10, 2017
Categories: Education, Payment Reform
When CMS issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking comments on replacing the existing SNF PPS case-mix RUG-IV payment methodology with a new model, the Resident Classification System, Version 1 (RCS-1), therapy providers everywhere began to wonder how it might affect their businesses. The ANPRM, entitled Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities, is subject to a 60-day comment period; the comment period was extended until August 25,... Read More
-
2017 Regulatory Trends for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Rehab Providers
May 31, 2017
Categories: ACA, Articles, Legislation, News, Regulatory Issues, Therapy Business
by Rita Cole, SLP, Clinical Director at Optima Healthcare Solutions
Several regulatory issues and trends that have an impact on the health care industry, specifically on Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and rehabilitation providers, are currently in the spotlight on Capitol Hill. Though these regulations will have a direct impact on SNFs, therapy providers will also be affected, so it’s important for all therapy providers to be aware of the implications.
Major... Read More
-
Brief Cognitive Assessment Test (BCAT)
June 18, 2013
Categories: News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 28, 2013 Baltimore, MD – The Brief Cognitive Assessment Test (BCAT), currently used by thousands of clinicians worldwide to assess and treat individuals who are living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition that results in an individual’s decreased memory, judgment, and reasoning abilities, has announced that they are unveiling an enhancement to their innovative science. The newly branded “BCAT Approach” will offer expanded access,... Read More
-
Functional Code Reporting Update from CMS
June 18, 2013
Categories: News
June 18, 2013 - CMS has provided the following update based on the June 4th Open Door Forum statement that "on July 1st funcational reporting will start which requests doing initial evals, goals & status. The July 1st treatment has to be treated as the initial eval, even if [provider] have been treating the patient. [CMS] realizes it is 'a little bit of a burden' but feel it is necessary." CMS had previously indicated that therapists must report functional information on the first... Read More
-
DOJ: Government Alleges Skilled Nursing Facility Billed for Medically Unnecessary Therapy
February 14, 2013
Categories: News
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWednesday, February 13, 2013Northern Virginia Therapy Provider to Pay $700,000 to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsGovernment Alleges Skilled Nursing Facility Billed for Medically Unnecessary TherapyFairfax, Va.-based skilled nursing facility Fairfax Nursing Center (FNC) and its owners have agreed to pay $700,000 to resolve... Read MoreFederal Register -- HIPAA Modifications; Final Rule
January 29, 2013
Categories: News
Click here for the recently posted HIPAA Modifications.
CMS Announces Educational Call for Providers on Functional Testing Requirement ~ 12/12/2012
December 3, 2012
Categories: News
CMS Announces Educational Call for Providers on Functional Testing Requirement
December 12, 2012 1:30 - 3:00pm EST
This presentation will cover the new functional reporting requirements for outpatient therapy services, including physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech language pathology (SLP) services, effective January 1, 2013. Participants will learn how to report patient functional limitation information on claims... Read MoreCMS Has Posted Audio & Transcript from 10/22/12 MMR of Therapy Claims Special ODF
December 3, 2012
Categories: News
The transcript and audio file for the October 22, 2012 Manual Medical Review of Therapy Claims Special Open Door Forum is available on the Special Open Door Forum web page: http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/ODFSpecialODF.html . Thank you for your continued interest in the CMS Open Door Forums. http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/ODFSpecialODF.html Read More