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Eli's Rehab Report

ICD-10:
Get a Big-Picture Rundown of ICD-10 Prep
Important: Not all payers will be ready at the same time. What was once an Oct. 1, 201... Read more
Coding Corner:
2 Clinical Examples to Get Your Feet Wet in ICD-10
Careful: Crosswalks can be your best friend — or worst nightmare. ICD-10 codes a... Read more
Vocal Pathologies ICD-10 Example
J38.0: Paralysis of vocal cords and larynx       Laryngople... Read more
SNF Therapy:
Use New Policy Changes to Your Advantage
Confusing clarifications in revised RAI Manual threaten reimbursement. Having trouble ... Read more
Home Health Therapy:
CMS Ditches Visit-Based Reassessment Timeline
Therapists and HHAs rejoice in the streamlining of therapy reassessment standards in the... Read more
Final 2015 Per-Visit Amounts For Home Health LUPAs and Outliers
As urged by numerous commenters, CMS has “reweighted some of the impact of therapy... Read more
Industry Notes:
Therapy Legislation Could Facilitate Telemedicine Reimbursement
Home health agencies that furnish Part B outpatient therapy in the home should keep thei... Read more
Inpatient Insights:
Gauge the 'IMPACT' of New Post-Acute Care Standardization Law
The stage has been set for payment reform. Lawmakers have prompted a re-modeling proje... Read more
Practice Pointers:
6 Ways to Point Your Compass toward IMPACT ACT Changes
Proving the value of therapy in your setting will be key. Think there’s nothing ... Read more
Home Health Prospective Payment System:
CMS Plans to Dump the Current Byzantine Visit Counting Requirement
Therapists and agencies prefer a time-based schedule. Commenters welcome the eliminati... Read more
Home Health Therapy:
Timeline for Therapy Reassessment Needs to be Realistic, Say Commenters
CMS determination to curb revenue maximizing efforts by certain agencies could backfire.... Read more
Industry Notes:
MAC Denies 40% of Claims in Home Health Therapy Reviews
More than 70% of denied claims were due to F2F in a recent probe. Whether Medicare will ... Read more
Home Health Regulations:
Therapists Overwhelmed by Paperwork
Quality of patient care suffers. The frequent reassessment visits required by CMS&r... Read more
Legislation:
Track the Latest Telehealth Trends Heating Up the Rehab Scene
Healthcare industry sees more momentum than ever in Congress for widespread coverage. ... Read more
Coding Corner:
Choose Your Codes Wisely for Remote Services
You might have to avoid the 97000 series altogether. While Medicare may not cover tele... Read more
States' Coverage:
Use Remote Technology Regardless of Medicare Coverage
Check out the parity laws. Congress pushed for more Medicare coverage of telehealth in... Read more
Severity Modifier Coding:
Solidify Your Physiotherapy Coding Knowledge
Refresher: Unless you remember to add the required functional G code/modifier, your clai... Read more
SNF Reimbursement:
Get A Healthy Payment Boost Next Year
Geographic location will define the exact payment increase. The Centers for Medicare &... Read more
ICD-10 News:
Mark Your Calendar, Officially
You have just over a year to prepare. As you were turning the calendar from July to... Read more
Outpatient Outlook:
Think FLR Is Limited to Medicare Claims? Think Again
UnitedHealthcare attempts to join the bandwagon. Just when you’ve gotten a grip ... Read more
IRFs and SNFs:
Equip Yourself for 2014 PPS Updates Now -- and Prevent Headaches Later
Group therapy now being monitored in both SNFs and IRFs. The Centers for Medicare &... Read more
SNFs:
Use MDS to Put Documentation, Rehab Outcomes On Track
Find missed care opportunities, unexpected decline, inconsistencies. Try targeting spe... Read more
Patient Privacy:
Protect Your Organization From Breach Risks
Avoid getting into hot water — don’t delay reporting a breach. You need to... Read more
Industry Notes:
Intervene Early with Childhood Communication Disorders
There has been an alarming rise in disability associated with speech problems in childre... Read more
Outpatient Outlook:
Expect a High Focus on Value from CMS in 2015
Agency proposes PQRS changes and more in proposed MPFS. The proposed Medicare Physicia... Read more
Long Term Care:
Explore 2 Likely Payment Models for SNFs in the Near Future
Therapy minute-based payments are on the outs. CMS has hinted at payment reform for sk... Read more
Inpatient Insights:
Learn More About Proposed Changes for IRFs
Get on-the-ground insight on IRF-PAI and quality reporting changes.  Medicare&rsq... Read more
Home Health Therapy Reassessment:
Look to 2015 PPS Rule for Possible Reprieve
Tracking days instead of counting visits proposed. The Centers for Medicare & Medi... Read more
Long-Term Care:
Restorative, Rehab, or Both? The Wrong Answer Can Cost Your SNF
4 quick questions can keep your care and payment on track. Your skilled nursing facili... Read more
Practice Pointers:
Amp Up Your SNF Therapy Documentation With the Right Details
Use this gait training example as a model. So your SNF has decided to go with rehab th... Read more
Industry Notes:
Use of Standardized Data Across Post-Acute Care Settings On The Horizon
You can look forward to standardization of data soon, which should come as a relief to p... Read more
Reader Question:
Do This for a PT and OT Coding Crossover
Question: What happens if physical therapy and occupational therapy is working on t... Read more
Reader Question:
What Kind Of Risk Does Using Private Email Accounts Pose?
Question: Our provider group has a secure system for encrypting all outgoing emails... Read more
Inpatient Insights:
Proposed IRF Rule Could Tighten 60% Rule Even More
Plus: You may see 2 new items on the IRF-PAI next year. The Centers for Medicare &... Read more
Skilled Nursing Facilities:
Rehab Could Land New Opportunity With COT OMRA Proposal
SNF PPS changes small for now, but big plans on the horizon. The Centers for Medicare ... Read more
Medical Review:
Help Home Health Partners Avoid Probe Edits
Improved communication with nursing staff is the key. The Medicare Administrative Cont... Read more
ICD-10 Readiness:
Avoid Going Off The Cliff During The ICD-10 Transition
Take the time to learn from those who are already using ICD-10. Did you heave a sigh o... Read more
Industry Notes:
Watch For The Most Comprehensive Physical Therapy Electronic Repository To Date
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has announced on June 10, a new collabo... Read more
Reader Question:
Know When To Combine The 30 Day Assessment With a COT
Question: If a resident is scheduled for their 30 day assessment on day 27 of the M... Read more
Reader Question:
Put Initial Assessment First
Question: I have a question about the order of visits in a new episode when there a... Read more
Reader Question:
Know Who Can Perform Nerve Conduction Studies
Question: I’m looking for guidelines regarding who is a qualified healthcare provi... Read more
Practice Pointers:
Put Your Documentation Under the Microscope for ICD-10 Prep
Get a fresh perspective of the documentation demands that come with ICD-10. ICD-10 imp... Read more
HIPAA:
Are You Leaving PHI Vulnerable to Breaches?
Compliance review leads to startling settlement. When the Office of Civil Rights (OCR)... Read more
Office Guidelines:
Keep These Supervision Requirements In Mind
Add your state’s laws to complete the guidance. Scouring the Medicare Claims ... Read more
Staffing Strategies:
Create A Winning Combination By Investing In Staff Education
Use these 4 ingredients for staff development success by engaging staff in multiple trai... Read more
Industry Notes:
Lack Of OASIS Support #1 Home Health Denial Reason
Lack of documentation for OASIS M0 items edged out face-to-face as the chief reason for ... Read more
Reader Question:
Explore Possibilities for Gait Training Denial
Question: We have been billing 97116 for gait training with no problem until earlie... Read more
Reader Question:
Evaluation And Assessment Differ
Question: I have a question for physical therapy codes 97001-97002. Our patient cam... Read more
Reader Question:
Billing 97001/97003 With 97542? Know This First
Question: In my fiscal intermediary’s local coverage determination (Cahaba GB... Read more
Outpatient Outlook:
Congress Cuts It Close With Last-Minute SGR Patch
Plus: Legislation shocks providers with ICD-10 delay.  Relish in the relief that ... Read more
Reimbursement:
Therapy Cap Exceptions Extended One Year
KX modifiers are back. If you furnish outpatient therapy in the home under the Part B ... Read more
Modifiers:
Clear Up Modifier Confusion
Tip: Watch for CCI edits in case of denials. Are you over-using modifiers? Make certai... Read more
Keep Track Of Functional Limitation G Codes
The following Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) G-codes are used... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Count Therapy Dates Based on ARD
Changes to Section I & O still in draft stage. If you’ve been gearing up for... Read more
Acute Rehab:
Are Inappropriate Referrals Bogging You Down?
Get tips on more efficient patient screenings for therapy. If you work in an acute reh... Read more
Health and Wellness:
Quick Test: Are You a Positive or a Negative Coper?
Reduce stress with these positive coping skills. When things get crazy at work, do you... Read more
Reader Question:
Consider Before and After Time When Patient Takes a Break
Question: How should I bill for a patient who performed 20 minutes of therapeutic e... Read more
Reader Question:
Watch Tax ID for Same-Day PT and Other Service
Question: We bill physical therapy under a physician number, not a facility. If one... Read more
Coding Corner:
Kick Your ICD-10 Preparation Into High Gear in 5 Steps
Critical point: You’re only 6 months out from a new diagnostic coding reality. T... Read more
SNF Therapy:
Don't Arbitrarily Stagger Timing Of Therapy Modalities
Be prepared for potential Additional Documentation Requests for the lower 14 RUG categor... Read more
Home Health Therapy:
Are Your OASIS Responses Putting Your Claims At Risk?
Tip: Communication problems between nurses and therapists could be at the root of the pr... Read more
3 Examples Show You How To Count Therapy In SNF Look-Back Period
How new item O0420 will change your RUG classification. When the Centers for Medica... Read more
Industry Notes:
Know Your Therapy Modifiers for Claims Success
Therapists who have been submitting claims to Medicare with the therapy modifiers for th... Read more
Target these Home Health Communication Hotspots to Prevent ADRs
When it comes to preventing problems with your high-therapy claims, making certain every... Read more
Reader Question:
When Should You Do a Change in Therapy for a SNF Resident?
Question:  I am still confused about when to do a Change in Therapy (COT). I was un... Read more
Outpatient Outlook:
Heads Up: SGR Fix in Home Stretch, Therapy Cap Repeal Lags Behind
Upcoming committee focus on HR 4015’s extenders offers ray of hope. Therapists m... Read more
Inpatient Insights:
Stop Hospital Readmissions in Their Tracks With This 7-Point Checklist
Hint: The biggest cause of readmissions is not related to the admitting Dx. Did you kn... Read more
Home Health:
Take A Collaborative Approach For Completing OASIS
Tip: Complete the drug regimen review each time you conduct the comprehensive assessment... Read more
Staffing Strategies:
Improve Internal Communication With This Easy 4-Step Strategy
Start evaluating and then enhancing your communication system. Excellent communication... Read more
Clip and Save:
Improve Home Health Medication Management with this Teaching Tool
Help your patient remember to tell you when medication issues arise. It’s import... Read more
The Do's And Don'ts of Listening
Do’s: Clear your schedule and make time to listen to the person.  Ask the o... Read more
Industry Notes:
Manual Changes, Education Call Shed Light On Change In Improvement Standard
If you’re trying to get a handle on what the Jimmo settlement agreement means you&... Read more
Outpatient Outlook:
Hold Fast -- But Not Tight -- to Latest SGR, Therapy Cap Fix
Historical legislative overhaul for payment policy may come as soon as April. Congress... Read more
Coding Coach:
Make Coding for Pelvic Floor Muscle Rehabilitation Services A Snap
Tip: Ensure you can justify PFMR. Treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with nons... Read more
Hospitals:
Get the Facts Straight on Therapy Caps and Hospitals
Pathway for SGR Reform Act nails CAHs, but may be only temporary. Hospitals have seen ... Read more
SNFs:
Adjust Therapy Schedules to Budget for Residents' LOA
Avoid decreased reimbursement with thorough documentation. According to the Medicare B... Read more
ICD-10-CM:
Big Change for Home Health Coders in Aftercare Coding
Heed therapy coding changes which take effect in October this year. Adopting the ICD-1... Read more
Industry Notes:
Industry Notes:
Mark Your Calendars: CMS Sets March 3-March 7 As ICD-10 Testing Week If you worry abou... Read more
Outpatient Outlook:
Expect a Near Miss of Steep Medicare Payment Changes
You may be in therapy cap and SGR limbo between January and March. Industry leaders a... Read more
Practice Pointers:
Nail Down the Final Changes for 2014 PQRS
Don’t miss: More measures now needed to qualify for your 0.5% bonus. Along with ... Read more
Dysphagia Coding:
Base Your Dysphagia Coding on Details
Make correct choices based on our experts’ advice. Dysphagia (difficulty in swal... Read more
Reimbursement:
CMS Uses ACA to Justify Cuts in LUPA Payments
Commenters express a wide range of concerns about LUPA payments. Home health agencies ... Read more
Proposed 2014 Per-Visit Amounts For LUPAs and Outliers
Discipline            2013 Per Visit&n... Read more
Mood Management:
Don't Let Events Get the Better of You
Here’s how to stay chilled when the pressure’s on. Make a personal connect... Read more
Industry News
Mark Your Calendars: CMS Sets March 3-March 7 As ICD-10 Testing Week If you worry abou... Read more
Reader Question:
Accuracy, Not Sequencing, Required for Claims
Question: Do you know if Medicare requires modifiers to be in a specific order? For exam... Read more
Reader Question:
When Are Re-Evaluations Reasonable and Necessary?
Question: I’m wondering when therapy re-evaluations are considered reasonable and ... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Allow Anyone to Bully You
Question: Often, I find myself dealing with some really rude patients. Some bully me on ... Read more
Available Years:  2014  2013  2012  2011  2010  2009  2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000