Eli's Rehab Report
Know Where You Stand on Therapy Caps in 2009
Question:
ALL providers, regardless of the fact that the news was cited from Cahaba GBA's regional home health intermediary news site.
I tried to find a reference to this on my FI's Web site, and I can't find anything. I also looked on the CMS Website and had no luck either. Do you have further information on this? Are you sure that this wasn't just a home health-related billing issue?
-- Texas Subscriber.
Answer: The news article we referenced in the issue you referred to attests that this "therapy cap freebie" affects all providers -- not just those doing home health rehab. Cahaba's home health news as the only source of this information is curious, however. Plus, the fact that your Medicare contractor and the CMS Web site do not mention this rather major claims processing issue for therapy caps is rather surprising.
To further validate, additional experts at the American Physical Therapy Association verified that this does affect all therapy providers. Essentially, CMS was not tracking the therapy caps for anyone between Jan. 1, 2009-April 2009.
Action:
If you continue to notice problems with your claims during that time period, contact your Medicare contractor. You might also contact a representative at your professional association for further guidance on how to claim your proper reimbursement for those months.-- Reader Questions were answered or reviewed by Rick Gawenda, PT, director of PM&R at Detroit Receiving Hospital and President/CEO of Gawenda Seminars & Consulting
.Eli's Rehab Report
- Business Strategies:
Tough Economic Times? Try These Innovative Ways to Save
Small things add up: for example, buying cheaper stationery. Economic recession or not, cutting costs [...] - Inpatient Insights:
Heads Up: Final PPS Rule Packs a Punch for IRFs
The good news: Some hidden perks are lurking inside, too. If you felt like a [...] - Practice Pointers:
Don't Get Too Discount-Happy With Patients
Show your therapists the numbers. During these tight times, many therapists are afraid that if [...] - SNFs:
SNF PPS Final Rule Gives Rehab a Run for Its Money
CMS puts its foot down on concurrent therapy. For rehab providers in skilled nursing facilities [...] - CLINICAL REHAB ROUNDUP:
Should You Restrain the Unaffected Limb in Stroke Rehab?
Effects of forced use on arm function in the subacute phase after stroke: a randomized, [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Get Confident With Your Modifier 59 Placement
Question: One of my therapists performed a suboccipital myofacial release with a patient for 10 [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Know Where You Stand on Therapy Caps in 2009
Question: I am trying to verify the information from a News Brief in Eli's Rehab [...] - NEWS BRIEFS:
Careful -- RACs Are Watching Your Untimed Therapy Codes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' notorious Recovery Audit Contractors are going after more [...] - NEWS BRIEFS:
Competitive Bidding Gears Up for October Launch
Suppliers waiting on pins and needles for the onset of competitive bidding now have a [...] - NEWS BRIEFS:
Medicare Unveils Proposed 2010 HHA PPS Rates
CMS just released its proposal for Home Health PPS 2010 -- and experts warn not to [...]
