articleAug 9, 2018 | 7 min. read
The How and Why of an Effective Rehab Therapy Compliance Program
It’s no secret that the US healthcare industry is heavily regulated—and those regulations are strictly enforced. Take this recent press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), for example. It explains how the DOJ charged 601 individuals with fraud—the largest healthcare fraud takedown in history. Among them: 71 physicians charged with falsely billing Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE in cases involving the prescription and distribution of narcotics. And in New York, 13 individuals were charged with conspiracy for …
articleJul 18, 2018 | 6 min. read
3 Common Rehab Therapy Credentialing Mistakes
Proper credentialing is a crucial step in running a successful physical therapy clinic. If your clinic and therapists aren’t properly credentialed with insurance providers from the get-go, your bottom line might suffer. And it’s not just new clinics that are susceptible to making credentialing mistakes; in fact, any clinic that has gone through a change in ownership, rapid growth phase, or any other transition might find itself mired in credentialing headaches. But before we get to the …
articleJul 13, 2018 | 5 min. read
CMS Puts FLR on the Chopping Block in 2019 Proposed Rule
Earlier this week, the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2019 physician fee schedule proposed rule . Among other possible changes, the proposal includes a measure to end functional limitation reporting (FLR) requirements for claims with dates of service on or after January 1, 2019. The proposed rule aims to reduce regulatory burden. This measure aligns with the proposed rule’s overall theme of reducing the administrative burden associated with documentation and reporting requirements …
articleMar 15, 2018 | 8 min. read
A 10-Point Plan for Smart and Secure Electronic Communications with Patients
As emails and text messages have become ubiquitous, patient expectations around provider responsiveness have increased. Gone are the days when providers set aside time each afternoon to return calls; now, they can simply respond to their patients’ texts—but should they? Many physical therapists, regardless of their practice model or patient population, are surprised to learn that they may not be allowed to interact with patients in the manner they—or their patients—prefer. These same providers are typically even …
articleJan 17, 2018 | 15 min. read
Our Comfort Zone is Killing Us: Top Takeaways from the 2018 Graham Sessions
Most of the time, when I attend a conference—whether that be a physical therapy, healthcare technology, business, or leadership conference—I do so because I want to connect with, and learn from, others in my field. I want to take in and absorb their knowledge to supplement and expand the depth of my own expertise. And most of the conferences I attend—including the Graham Sessions —allow me to do just that. But, this year’s Graham Sessions were different. …
articleDec 11, 2017 | 9 min. read
Direct Access Laws by State (Idaho-Mississippi)
Yesterday, I broke down the what’s what of direct access laws by state, starting in Alabama and ending in Hawaii . Today, I’m continuing our guided tour of direct access law by kicking things off in Idaho and making our way down the list to Mississippi. (Don’t worry about gas money: we’ll do it all from the comfort of our homes or offices.) Just to reiterate, I’m not a legal or compliance expert, and all of the …
articleDec 8, 2017 | 10 min. read
Direct Access Laws by State (Alabama-Hawaii)
If you’re a physical therapist—and you’re licensed in the United States—then you’re practicing in a direct access state. That’s right: In all 50 states—as well as the US Virgin Islands and DC—direct access to at least a physical therapy evaluation is the law of the land. But, before you start seeing every patient who walks through your door without a physician referral, there are a few things you ought to know. The laws around direct access can …
articleNov 29, 2017 | 7 min. read
Will PTs, OTs, and SLPs Ever Have to Participate in MIPS?
Despite the fact that earlier this year CMS sent confusing letters to numerous rehab therapy clinics about their participation status in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) , physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists are still not eligible to officially participate in this quality reporting initiative. (You can double check your eligibility status by entering your NPI in the form here .) According to the APTA, though, “it's almost a given that PTs will be mandatorily …
articleNov 6, 2017 | 7 min. read
Founder Letter: The Con Ed Conundrum: What's Wrong with PT CEUs
Change is uncomfortable—however necessary it may be. And that uneasiness prevents many individuals and groups from seeking the kind of change that is vital to growth. This trend of paralysis is all too common in the physical therapy space, and in my mind, one glaring example of something desperately ripe for change is our lack of standardization—in terms of brand perception, patient experience, and clinical outcomes. And one way we can begin bridging that gap is to …
articleNov 5, 2017 | 5 min. read
How to Select the Right CEU Credits
So, you’ve finished school—and graduated with your degree in your rehab specialty. But, that doesn’t mean your learning days are over. Far from it. Whether it’s learning informally from your peers, brushing up on the latest research in academic journals, or attending formal lectures or clinicals, a therapist’s learning is never done. It can’t be. Otherwise, how would you stay current on this constantly changing industry? To make sure all licensed therapists are doing just that—staying current, …
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