By simply creating more confusion, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has made it more difficult for providers. In turn, providers are still expected to be ready to provide the best treatment...
Effectively screen those residents
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Feb 09, 2012
It’s not much of a surprise that many therapists are excellent at everything in their job — except screening.
Medical necessity — slippery for some
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Dec 02, 2011
Medical necessity has become a common phrase in healthcare terminology, but what exactly does it mean? Unfortunately, this term has become very subjective and is the primary reason we have been denied...
How old is too old?
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Sep 06, 2011
“They don’t need rehab, they’re too old!” How many times have we heard or even asked this question? Did you know that Regis Philbin turned 80 on August 25? The Dancing with the...
CMS did more than ‘just’ cut Medicare pay by 11.1%
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Aug 19, 2011
Have you started your COT trending analysis? On Aug. 8, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the final ruling and commentary for the new implementation of the MDS changes set to take effect...
Increasing length-of-stay
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jan 30, 2012
Length-of-stay — LOS — is one of those management reports that often leaves administrators and upper management bewildered. If you increase LOS, you essentially increase your census.
How to profit from the new regulation changes
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jan 04, 2012
Has the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services underestimated us again? I hope so. On Oct. 1, 2011, CMS implemented new regulation changes that added a Change of Therapy, COT OMRA, MDS. I believe it...
How to avoid end-of-therapy pitfalls
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Oct 28, 2011
You are not required to offer therapy services on weekends under new MDS 3.0 changes instituted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. But you do have to be careful if you don’t.
Rehab and ADLs
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Oct 17, 2011
Since MDS 3.0 was initiated in October 2010, facilities throughout the United States have experienced a significant increase in “A” ADL scoring ratios. By becoming aware of your facility’s...
Because We The People demand it!
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Oct 07, 2011
Patrick Henry once said, “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government — lest it come to dominate...