articleAug 14, 2017 | 6 min. read
Why Physical Therapists Should Support the CONNECT for Health Act 2017
The US Senate recently introduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act 2017 (S.1016) . If passed, the CONNECT for Health Act would remove several barriers to utilizing telehealth with Medicare patients—which would present a valuable opportunity to the physical therapy profession. Here’s why PTs should strongly consider supporting it: It will allow PTs to deliver, and receive reimbursement for, physical therapy telehealth services. As it stands, Medicare only provides …
articleAug 2, 2017 | 7 min. read
What 500,000 Evaluative Notes Told Us About the New CPT Codes
Back in January, PTs and OTs experienced a pretty dramatic shift in the way they coded for initial evaluations. As you probably—hopefully—recall, this change required therapists to select evaluation CPT codes based on the complexity of each individual eval. (If this doesn’t sound familiar—or if you want a refresher on the details of the new evaluation code set—then I’d recommend reading this post ASAP.) This was a major change—one that thrust our entire profession into uncharted territory. …
articleJul 28, 2017 | 7 min. read
When Should I Use Modifier 59?
In a PT’s paradise, the billing process wouldn’t exist. Therapists would simply provide treatment and receive payment accordingly, no explanation—or coding—required. In the real world, though, claims—and the codes and modifiers you submit with those claims—are your ticket to getting paid. And in many situations, one little modifier could have a big impact on your bottom line. Such is the case with modifier 59. Not sure of the rules governing proper use of this much talked-about modifier? …
articleJul 28, 2017 | 8 min. read
The 8-Minute Rule: What it is and How it Works in WebPT
With most buyer-seller transactions, calculating the cost of a product or service is fairly simple. There are no complicated formulas for determining the monetary value of a pizza or a movie ticket; you simply pay the business’s advertised price. When it comes to Medicare’s payment for rehab therapy services, however, things aren’t always so simple. Yes, I’m talking about the dreaded 8-Minute Rule (a.k.a. the Rule of Eights). The Basics The 8-Minute Rule governs the process by …
webinarJul 27, 2017
Cashing In on Private Pay: The PT's Guide to Going Out-of-Network
For many rehab therapists, submitting a claim to a third-party payer feels a lot like pulling the lever on a slot machine. You never know for sure what you’re gonna get—and most of the time, it’s less than you’d hoped for. With seemingly ever-increasing regulations—and constantly shrinking reimbursements—it’s no wonder so many PTs, OTs, and SLPs feel like the financial odds are stacked against them. As a result, more and more rehab therapy providers are trying their …
articleJun 27, 2017 | 5 min. read
Data and Lobstah: What You Missed at APTA NEXT 2017
Last week, Boston was brimming with more than hot lobstah—er, lobster—rich history, and die-hard sports fans. That’s because thousands of forward-thinking physical therapists joined together to learn, network, and discuss the future of the industry at APTA NEXT . Now, if you didn’t have a chance to attend this wicked-sweet, innovation-focused, four-day event, don’t worry. I had the opportunity to sit in on sessions, try a lobster roll for the first time, and boil down (no pun …
articleJun 15, 2017 | 5 min. read
8 Reasons You Should Attend Ascend 2017
Great news! Ascend— the ultimate business summit for rehab therapists —is back. Last year, the third-annual event hit Fort Worth, Texas, for two incredibly educational (and incredibly fun) days. This year—September 29 and 30, to be exact—Ascend is heading to our nation’s capital. As we all know, DC is full of movers, shakers, and changemakers, and Ascend will keep that tradition alive—minus the political drama. This two-day conference is a can’t-miss affair. Here’s why: 1.) You’ll …
articleMay 26, 2017 | 22 min. read
Denial Management FAQ
During our denial management webinar , we discussed the difference between rejections and denials, explained how to handle both, and provided a five-step plan for stopping them in their tracks. The webinar concluded with an exhaustive Q&A, and we’ve amassed the most common questions here. Insurance Issues Claim Quandaries Compliance Qualms Documentation Dilemmas Front-Office Frustrations Insurance Issues We’ve had issues with auto insurances denying 97112 (neuromuscular re-education) for non-neuro diagnoses, even in cases when the patient’s medical …
webinarApr 19, 2017
Down with Denials! 5 Claim Fixes to Make Sure Your PT Clinic Gets Paid
One denied claim might not sound off your billing alarm bells—but in reality, it should. That’s because—as with faulty plumbing—one leak often indicates a much larger issue. And all too often, rehab therapy practices fail to act quickly enough—and soon find themselves wading in a flood of lost revenue. But there are simple, proven, and affordable ways to not only plug your billing holes, but also reinforce your whole system so you’re less likely to bust a …
downloadApr 3, 2017
The PT Patient's Guide to Understanding Insurance
Patients are shouldering a greater portion of their healthcare costs than ever before. But when they don’t know the specifics of their coverage, they can end up with much bigger bills than they bargained for—and that often leads to unpaid balances and unfinished treatment plans. Bring them up to speed—and improve your practice’s collections and patient retention—with this guide. Patients will learn: What it means for a service to be “covered.” How to define common insurance terms. …
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