Free Rehab e-Newsletters

Rehab Regs

This free, weekly e-zine will keep you current on the industry, from the latest news on CMS to what your colleagues are doing throughout the country. RehabRegs keeps your finger on the pulse of the rehab and therapy world.

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Rehab Regs

Issue 52, December 28, 2007

• CMS sets DMEPOS accreditation deadline

  Under CMS' September 30, 2009 accreditation deadline for current suppliers of durable medical...

• Survey shows growing concern over Alzheimer’s disease

  In a national survey, more than two out of three Americans polled (68%) think it is important to...

• Pay-Per-View: A look at CNA Healthpro's claims study

  Purchase this article from the January 2008 issue of Briefings on Outpatient Rehab: Reimbursement...

Issue 51, December 21, 2007

• Therapists to benefit from bill

  Good news for therapists, Congress passed The Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007...

• Occupational therapists exempt from wheelchair evaluation certification

  The American Occupational Therapy Association's (AOTA) hard work for the past two years has paid...

• Pay-Per-View: Outcomes matter

  Pay-Per-View: Outcomes matter: Measure your performance and your patient recovery rates against...

• Article of the week: Creativity is vital to recruit and retain qualified therapists

  A shortage of qualified therapists to fill staffing voids continues to be a problem that plagues...

Issue 50, December 14, 2007

• Healthcare industry companies join to define security standards in 2008

  In order to create a set of security standards for electronic health records (EHR), nine healthcare...

• CMS communications clarify NPI deadlines, NPPES requirements, and use of

  CMS released two Communications in November aiming to clarify several requirements and deadlines in...

• Article of the week: Abbreviate cautiously to alleviate documentation confusion

  Abbreviations always make sense when you're the one using them, right? But sometimes shorthand can...

Issue 49, December 7, 2007

• Editor’s note

  Editor's note: In clarification to last week's brief, Relief in sight for therapy certification...

• The APTA partners up to promote physical fitness

  The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) was formally named a Science Partner to the...

• Therapy provides relief for vulvodynia sufferers

  Physical therapy helps women with vulvodynia find relief, according to an American Physical Therapy...

Issue 48, November 30, 2007

• CMS updates NPI requirements

  Starting March 1, 2008, the Medicare Fee-For-Service 837P and CMS-1500 claims are required to...

• Relief in sight for therapy certification requirements

  The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule will ease the certification requirement for the plan...

• Pay-Per-View: Tips to private practice success

  Pay-Per-View: You asked, we answered: Common ICD-9 coding questions Purchase this article from the...

Issue 47, November 16, 2007

• Patients relate with board game

  A board game developed by an occupational therapist helps others gain insight to the profession...

• MRSA's new threat is public anxiety

  As all ICPs know, MRSA is not a new problem. What is new is public anxiety about drug-resistant...

• Article of the week: Ensure outpatient cardiac rehab billing compliance

  Make sure that all outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (OCR) services your hospital provides meet...

Issue 46, November 9, 2007

• Article of the week: Internal reviews can offer a revealing reflection

  Two of the biggest complaints rehab providers have are that they don't understand why a payer...

• CMS releases Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule

  On November 1, CMS released the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule indicating a 10.1...

• Congress faces therapy cap decision

  On November 6, legislation was introduced to Congress that would postpone the therapy cap which...

Issue 45, November 2, 2007

• Article of the week: How to ensure that you get good value out of your managed care contracts

  Before attempting to enter into any renegotiating, first analyze your practice and the conditions...

• Exercise improves balance for older adults

  Older adults, who walk, participate in strength and balance training, dance, and tai chi reduce...

• Therapy programs in Georgia schools face financial crunch

  Georgia's school system might lose $12.3 million in the next fiscal year because of proposed...

Issue 44, October 26, 2007

• Association urges Veterans Affairs to update qualifications

  The American Physical Therapy Association is encouraging the US Department of Veterans Affairs to...

• CDC publishes MRSA study

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was in the headlines this week, making news...

Issue 42, October 19, 2007

• APTA makes top 60 places to work list

  For the third time since October 2003, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) was named...

• New 2007 infant hearing guidelines expected

  The Joint Commission on Infant Hearing (JCIH) updates its standards for early hearing detection and...

• Article of the week: Internal reviews can offer a revealing reflection

  Two of the biggest complaints rehab providers have are that they don't understand why a payer...

Issue 41, October 12, 2007

• Two-year jail sentence for Medicare fraud conviction

  After pleading guilty to healthcare fraud, a Colorado physical therapy company owner was convicted...

• Associations banding together to stop therapy cap

    In an effort to persuade Congress to take action to avoid the therapy cap, the American...

• Pay-Per-View: You asked, we answered: Common ICD-9 coding questions

  Pay-Per-View: You asked, we answered: Common ICD-9 coding questions   Purchase this article...

Issue 40, September 28, 2007

• New ICD-9 coding guidelines to take affect

  CMS and the other cooperating parties have issued new ICD-9-CM Official Guidelines for coding and...

• OIG 2008 plan to put spotlight on therapy services

  Physical and occupational therapy services will face more scrutiny in 2008 than any previous year...

• Obesity epidemic focus of physical therapy month

  October is National Physical Therapy Month and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is...

• Certification helps out with salary supplements

  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified speech-language pathologists in...

• Occupational therapists advocate for the profession

  In an effort to advocate for occupational therapists' contribution to health and wellness, 120 OTs...

• Article of the week: Outpatient home therapy: An untapped market for therapists

  To some, home therapy is a niche market for existing facilities to add to their list of services...

• Pay-Per-View: The future is here: Accepting evidence-based practice

  Pay-Per-View: The future is here: Accepting evidence-based practice Purchase this article from...

• Pay-Per-View: Streamline your hiring process

  Pay-Per-View: Streamline your hiring process

Issue 39, September 21, 2007

• CMS database is up and running

  CMS' National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) data dissemination plan to allow SNFs...

• Healthcare quality guide available for therapists

  In response to consumers demanding more information on quality healthcare, the Office of Inspector...

• Audit finds therapist billing Medicare inappropriately

  A recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit revealed that a Florida physical therapist owes...

• Pay-Per-View: Wound management coding

  Pay-Per-View: Wound management coding

Issue 37, September 14, 2007

• Association partnership focuses on professional education

  To further the occupational therapy profession, the American Occupational Therapy Association...

• Army opens outpatient rehab facility

  Walter Reed Army Medical Center opened an outpatient rehabilitation center on September 13 for...

• Acquisition helps therapy company grow

  U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc., a chain of 348 outpatient occupational and physical therapy facilities...

Issue 35, September 7, 2007

• Electric stimulus helps patients go from liquid to solid foods

  Electrotherapy is helping stroke patients relearn how to swallow, reported myrtlebeachonline.com.

• CMS issues Stark III

  CMS released the third phase of the Stark law, prohibiting physicians from referring Medicare...

• A little help from an OT goes a long way

  Making a few changes at home can make independence a possibility, according to the American...

• Article of the week: Do-it-yourself rehab marketing

  If you still use the standard holiday fruitcake to improve physician relations with your facility...

• Pay-Per-View: Stop leaving your therapy dollars on the table

  Purchase this article from the September 2007 issue of Briefings on Outpatient Rehab: Reimbursement...

Issue 34, August 31, 2007

• CMS calls out to therapists for PAC-PRD participation

  Want your inpatient rehabilitation facility to be a part of CMS’ upcoming Post Acute Care...

• Therapists urge backpack safety awareness

  With the start of the new school year around the corner, physical therapists and occupational...

• Too many jobs and not enough therapists

  The number of physical therapy jobs in Indiana and Illinois is outnumbering the amount of qualified...

• Pay-Per-View: What's hot in rehab: Objective documentation

  Pay-Per-View: What's hot in rehab: Objective documentation

Issue 33, August 17, 2007

• APTA promotes rehab research

  On Tuesday, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) submitted a statement to the...

• Research panel created to promote professional excellence

  In an attempt to further the occupational therapy profession, the American Occupational Therapy...

• Software enhances speech therapy

  Touch & Talk Software International, based in Mellen, WI, announced the release of Touch &...

• PTs promote intervention over drugs

  From 1997 to 2005 retail sales of five leading painkillers has nearly doubled in use prompting the...

• Rehab facility opening in Texas

  Seton Family of Hospitals of Central Texas is partnering with RehabCare Group Inc., headquartered...

• Home programs to help youngsters

  To help children start off on the right foot, the Knox County Health Department in Ohio developed a...

• Article of the week: Outpatient home therapy: An untapped market for therapists

  To some, home therapy is a niche market for existing facilities to add to their list of services...

• Article of the week: Filing an appeal? Don't panic

  It's one of the most vexing problems that you come across in your outpatient therapy practice. You...

• Pay-Per-View: Be aware of the looming 9.9% reimbursement reduction

  Pay-Per-View: Be aware of the looming 9.9% reimbursement reduction

Issue 32, August 10, 2007

• Positive results for Medicare's fee-for-service contractors

  A CMS survey to assess provider satisfaction with service from Medicare contractors yielded...

• CMS advises therapists to report legacy numbers

  CMS is reminding Medicare providers to report their legacy numbers in the National Plan and...

• PTs and OTs to comment on physician referrals

  The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is urging OTs and PTs to provide comments to...

• Article of the week: Cancel out patient no-shows

  Patients missing appointments is a fact of life in the healthcare industry. Some patients will call...

Issue 31, August 3, 2007

• SCHIP program to benefit from bill

  Potential changes to 2008 Medicare payments will have PTs seeing an increase in payments and...

• PTs and OTs oppose RESNA certification

  The April 1, 2008 effective date for PT and OT RESNA certification is being met with opposition by...

• Online speech therapy helping children speak

  Children in Canada are receiving at-home speech therapy treatment through online technology...

Issue 30, July 27, 2007

• Therapist gets 45 year prison sentence

  Therapist gets 45 year prison sentence

• Colorado speech-language pathologists highly sought

  Colorado speech-language pathologists highly sought

• The virtual side to therapy

  The virtual side to therapy

• Pay-Per-View: Paint an accurate patient picture during the initial eval

  Pay-Per-View: Paint an accurate patient picture during the initial eval

Issue 29, July 20, 2007

• Reimbursement changes for audiologists

  Reimbursement changes for audiologists

• Speech-language pathologists can expect student loan forgiveness

  Speech-language pathologists can expect student loan forgiveness

• Article of the week: Insurance copays have your patients seeing red?

  If your patients have complained about higher copays and deductibles from their insurance carriers...

• Pay-Per-View: Know your facility's cost of providing care

  Pay-Per-View: Know your facility's cost of providing care

• PT patients in Tennessee get direct access

  PT patients in Tennessee get direct access

Issue 28, July 13, 2007

• CMS devises PQRI letter for patients

  CMS devises PQRI letter for patients

• Therapists face reimbursement cut with new fee schedule

  Therapists face reimbursement cut with new fee schedule

• New legislation will benefit New Jersey PTs

  New legislation will benefit New Jersey PTs

• Article of the week: The road toward safe driving

  As more states begin passing driver evaluation laws, OTs have the chance to provide the community...

Issue 27, July 6, 2007

• Audit puts Maryland schools at risk for reimbursement reduction

  Audit puts Maryland schools at risk for reimbursement reduction

• Therapist paid government back $100,000

  Therapist paid government back $100,000

• Updates to the NPPES deadline is approaching

  Updates to the NPPES deadline is approaching

Issue 26, June 29, 2007

• Robots and PTs work together in Philly

  Robots and PTs work together in Philly

• Direct access PT available to Oregon residents

  Residents in Oregon can now visit a physical therapist (PT) without a physician's referral...

• ASHA educates the public on TBI

  ASHA educates the public on TBI

• Pay-Per-View: The PQRI: Is the 1.5% bonus worth the work?

  Pay-Per-View: The PQRI: Is the 1.5% bonus worth the work?

• Article of the week: Improving leadership and management at work

  Before you pursue that rehab director position or are asked to fill it by facility management...

Issue 25, June 22, 2007

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launches flu blog

  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launches flu blog

• PT clinic owner gets jail time

  PT clinic owner gets jail time

• Golfers receive tips to improve their swing

  Golfers receive tips to improve their swing

• Article of the Week: Obesity management

  With all the time and energy your staff put into tracking down physician referrals, completing...

• Pay-Per-View: Is there a solution in sight for the per-diem cap?

  Pay-Per-View: Is there a solution in sight for the per-diem cap?

Issue 24, June 15, 2007

• Georgia governor vetoes therapy bill

  Georgia governor vetoes therapy bill

• Time's up for the "old" CMS-1500 form

  Time's up for the "old" CMS-1500 form

• SLP practices unlicensed for six years

  SLP practices unlicensed for six years

• Article of the week: Improving leadership and management at work

  Before you pursue that rehab director position or are asked to fill it by facility management...

• Pay-Per-View: SLPs are paving the way to a brighter future for students

  Pay-Per-View: SLPs are paving the way to a brighter future for students

Issue 23, June 8, 2007

• Minnesota passes law to license PTAs

  Minnesota passes law to license PTAs

• Organizations advocate to reduce hearing loss

  Organizations advocate to reduce hearing loss

• At-home PT program helps adults stay active

  At-home PT program helps adults stay active

• Article of the Week: Hiring a therapist for your practice?

  Industry experts say that when you interview candidates for your practice, consider a variety of...

Issue 22, June 1, 2007

• Associations team up to promote senior driving safety

  Associations team up to promote senior driving safety

• Older adults seek physical therapy for active lifestyles

  Older adults seek physical therapy for active lifestyles

• PTs must boost political advocacy

  PTs must boost political advocacy

Issue 21, May 25, 2007

• Videos games help patients recover from brain injuries

  Videos games help patients recover from brain injuries

• PT charged with Medicare fraud

  PT charged with Medicare fraud

• OTs count yourselves in for the PQRI eligibility

  OTs count yourselves in for the PQRI eligibility

• Pay-Per-View: Network and market to yield more patient referrals

  Pay-Per-View: Network and market to yield more patient referrals

Issue 20, May 18, 2007

• CMS details additional guidance for NPI contingency plan

  On May 8, CMS released provider authentication requirements for telephone and written inquiries...

• Language skills are the tool for spelling success

  When attempting to improve reading, writing, and spelling abilities, those who use word study...

• Kansas joins 43 other states in providing direct access

  Kansas residents who need instruction and information on workplace injury prevention and healthy...

• Pay-Per-View: Backstroke, breaststroke . . . tire inner tube?

  Pay-Per-View: Backstroke, breaststroke . . . tire inner tube?

Issue 19, May 11, 2007

• Turn up the dial, ASHA is on the air

  During the month of May, National Public Radio (NPR) will air the American Speech-Language-Hearing...

• Vitamin D deficiency may lead to a decline in physical health

  A recent study found that older adults who don't get enough Vitamin D may increase their risk for...

• Indiana passes bill to require OT licensure

  On May 8, Indiana became the 47th state to provide licensure for occupational therapists (OT...

Issue 18, May 4, 2007

• Proposed bill to help America's hard of hearing

  A bill to provide Medicare coverage for hearing aids and auditory rehabilitation services for...

• ASHA says to listen up and turn down the volume

  May is Better Hearing and Speech Month and to celebrate, the American Speech-Language-Hearing...

• Washington state passes bill to help therapists

  Washington state's House and Senate just passed a bill that grants occupational therapists service...

• Pay-Per-View: Negotiating a Managed Care Contract

  Pay-Per-View: Negotiating a Managed Care Contract

Issue 17, April 27, 2007

• New law in Washington to license PTAs

  New law in Washington to license PTAs

• New law in Washington to license PTAs

  New law in Washington to license PTAs

• AOTA president says leadership is the vision for OTs

  AOTA president says leadership is the vision for OTs

• Initiative yields big rewards for older drivers and AOTA

  Initiative yields big rewards for older drivers and AOTA

Issue 16, April 20, 2007

• CMS answers your NPI questions

  CMS answers your NPI questions

• SLPs to benefit from electronic documentation

  SLPs to benefit from electronic documentation

• Physical therapy better than drug therapy for arthritis

  Physical therapy better than drug therapy for arthritis

Issue 15, April 13, 2007

• Shopping gives patients a new lease on life

  Shopping gives patients a new lease on life

• AOTA celebrates military personnel

  AOTA celebrates military personnel

• PTs and OTs exempt from competitive bidding

  .

Issue 14, April 6, 2007

• Reimbursement for several wound care products cut

  Reimbursement for several wound care products cut

• Association and athletic trainers face off in Maryland

  Association and athletic trainers face off in Maryland

• Electric stimulation helps with paralysis

  Electric stimulation helps with paralysis

• Pay-Per-View: Managing Risk Part One

  Pay-Per-View: Managing Risk Part One

• Therapists we need your help!

  Therapists we need your help!

Issue 13, March 30, 2007

• Association advocates for elderly

  Association advocates for elderly

• Light exercise helps bedridden expectant mothers

  Light exercise helps bedridden expectant mothers

• Washington, DC, has jumped on the direct access bandwagon

  Washington, DC, has jumped on the direct access bandwagon

• Pay-Per-View: The appeals process: New, improved, and better than ever in 2007

  Pay-Per-View: The appeals process: New, improved, and better than ever in 2007

Issue 12, March 23, 2007

• Fraud and money laundering scheme leaves many penniless

  In Arizona last week, nine men were accused of fraud and money laundering which took in $40 million...

• Physical therapy can help with headaches

  Individuals suffering from headaches can gain relief with physical therapy and without the use of...

• Acquisition puts Select Medical at the top of the pack

  Select Medical Corp. in Mechanicsburg, PA, has the official go ahead to acquire HealthSouth Corp...

• Pay-Per-View: Look worldwide to fill staffing voids

  Pay-Per-View: Look worldwide to fill staffing voids

Issue 11, March 16, 2007

• Potential ABN form in comment period

  CMS is consolidating the two Advanced Beneficiary Notices (ABN) for outpatient providers into one...

• APTA warns frequent fliers of

  APTA warns frequent fliers of "coach class syndrome"

• CMS extends deadline for Form CMS-1500 (12-90)

  CMS extends deadline for Form CMS-1500 (12-90)

• Pay-Per-View: Gauge your patients' satisfaction with regular surveys

  Pay-Per-View: Gauge your patients' satisfaction with regular surveys

Issue 10, March 9, 2007

• Doctors and therapists can work together in Alabama

  Doctors and therapists can work together in Alabama

• Indiana passes licensure bill

  Indiana passes licensure bill

• Guilty plea for clinic owner

  Guilty plea for clinic owner

• Pay-Per-View: Use AM-PAC for outcome measurements across settings

  Pay-Per-View: Use AM-PAC for outcome measurements across settings

Issue 9, March 2, 2007

• Physicians recommend therapy before drugs

  Physicians recommend therapy before drugs

• Don't stop and go directly to your physical therapist

  Don't stop and go directly to your physical therapist

• Music is the universal language

  Music is the universal language

Issue 8, February 23, 2007

• Potential quality reporting system in APTA’s future

  Potential quality reporting system in APTA’s future

• Bill will alleviate student loan debt

  Bill will alleviate student loan debt

• Workout video helps patients with knee replacement surgery

  Workout video helps patients with knee replacement surgery

Issue 6, February 9, 2007

• Therapy caps repeal bill reintroduced

  The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2007 (S. 450/H.R. 748) was introduced in the...

• ASHA sponsoring ads to warn about hearing loss risks

  The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has produced and is disseminating...

• Nintendo Wii could be used for PT

  Medical researchers are attempting to use the Nintendo Wii gaming console to help treat children...

Issue 5, February 2, 2007

• CMS updates inpatient rehab guidelines

  CMS released Transmittal 65 on January 26, providing updated guidelines for rehabilitation services...

• Alabama PTs fight for diagnosis rights

  PTs in Alabama are seeking to change state law that prohibits them from making a medical diagnosis...

• PT workers' comp claims decrease in California

  Workers' compensation reform legislation has led to a decrease in the amount of PT claims in...

Issue 4, January 26, 2007

• CMS reminds providers to get NPI number

  CMS recently issued an MLNMatters article to remind providers that the National Provider Identifier...

• Insurance companies capping spinal cord therapy treatments

  While treatments for spinal cord injuries continue to improve, the costs also continue to rise. As...

• PT warns heavy handbags can be hazards

  Large purses and handbags could be hazardous to women's health, William Case, a Houston PT, told...

Issue 3, January 19, 2007

• Bill aims for direct access in Virginia

  The Virginia House Health, Welfare, and Institutions Committee unanimously passed a bill Tuesday...

• UnitedHealth changing its fee schedule

  UnitedHealth Group, a major national healthcare insurer, and its subsidiary, ACN Group, recently...

• Michigan facility using Pilates for stroke patients

  Heartland Rehabilitation Outpatient Services in Birmingham, MI, is using Pilates-based physical...

Issue 2, January 12, 2007

• Illinois MS patients await governor's signature

  People in the state of Illinois suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) are eagerly anticipating...

• APTA: Need for PTs will continue to grow

  The demand for PTs and PT assistants will continue to rise fore at least the next five years, R...

• OT and SLP on best careers list for 2007

  U.S. News & World Report named the professions of occupational therapist (OT) and speech-language...

Issue 1, January 5, 2007

• CMS eliminates manual exceptions process

  Rehab providers will no longer have to worry about submitting letters to request manual exceptions...

• CMS recommends four tools to use during evaluation

  In Transmittal 63, released December 29, CMS recommended that therapists use one of the four...

• Some South Carolina PTs could lose license

  First the South Carolina Supreme Courts ruled that PTs in the state could not be employed by...