Entry By: Eileen Bach, PT, M.Ed, DPT
Hello, home care therapists! In the past few days, CMS updated the written questions and answers for therapy. A new 16th question/answer was added regarding 30 day re-assessments.
You can access this information by going to http://www.cms.gov/snfpps/03_RUGIVedu12.asp for the Q&A therapy file. You can also find this (and many more CMS documents) by going to the Home Health Agency center at CMS, under “Therapy and Skilled Nursing” – http://www.cms.gov/center/hha.asp
Happy and safe summer to all!
Eileen Bach PT, M.Ed, DPT, COS-C
Shelley, I do not know of any Medicare requirement for minimum treatment time for home health visit of any professional – PT, RN, etc. Medicare billing for home care professional visits are done in 15 minute units but not coded the same way a 15 minute unit in outpatient PT might be.
Most home care agencies establish a minimum treatment time for each discipline based on professional practice standards and the patient population each agency serves. Some agencies go further and establish a minimum treatment time for visits versus for evaluations. That becomes an agency policy.
Hope this is helpful.
Best wishes,
Eileen Bach
Please tell me where I can find in writing the Medicare requirement for what the minimum treatment time is for a home health Physical Therapy visit.