WebPT Blog - reimbursement
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1 CommentsAug 9, 2012| Charlotte Bohnett
This blog post comes from WebPT copywriters Charlotte Bohnett and Erica Cohen.
Medicare compliance is one very tough nut to crack as is navigating the murky waters of medical insurance billing. We’ve filled this month’s blogs with all sorts of valuable and applicable information on everything from HIPAA to autonomy. But what Medicare obstacles do you grapple with daily? Today, let’s talk the five most frequently asked questions regarding Medicare.
1.) What is the Therapy Cap?
According to the APTA’s FAQs on the Therapy Cap and KX Modifier, under the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997, Congress placed an annual cap on rehabilitation services through Medicare. That means that Medicare will only reimburse you as the rehabilitation therapist up to a certain dollar amount per patient regardless of services provided.
In 2012, that annual per beneficiary therapy cap is $1,880 for physical therapy and speech language pathology services combined, and there is a separate $1,880 amount allotted for occupational therapy services.
Note: While the Medicare Advantage plan may apply a $1,880 therapy cap with an exceptions process, many Medicare Advantage plans have chosen not to apply a therapy cap in the past. Please check with your Medicare Advantage plan regarding its payment policies.
Read WebPT cofounder, COO, and PT Heidi Jannenga’s take on the therapy cap in her blog post, “Save the Day the CMS Way.” -
Aug 6, 2012| Charlotte Bohnett
Today’s blog post comes from WebPT cofounder and COO Heidi Jannenga, PT, MPT, ATC/LTo all of our Super Therapists working diligently to improve their patients’ functional level and quality of life, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has tossed a chunk of Kryptonite into our clinics.
As you know, CMS has implemented many changes this year and continues to have the Proposed Rule for prospective payment and data collection pending. Keeping up to date with these changes is crucial if you are treating patients with Medicare insurance. As our fellow superhero Spiderman says, “Whatever comes our way…we always have a choice...It's the choices that make us who we are, and we can always choose to do what's right.” As therapists, we want to do what’s right for our patients, and that means producing excellent documentation that aligns with Medicare’s compliance requirements. Our skillset as therapists includes validating the need for our services, and we can only achieve this through thorough documentation and use of tests and measures to help show progress during the episode of care. EMRs can help to enforce Medicare compliance, while improving workflow efficiency, but ultimately you’re the last line of defense.
