The G-codes are here for payment claims — ready or not
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
May 23, 2013
Effective July 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will begin rejecting claims received for Medicare Part B patients that do not include the new requirement of G-coding. That really means providers...
Standing tall for veterans
By
Renee Kinder
Nov 09, 2017
Procedural memory is a fascinating mechanism, a construct of long-term memory and is the form of memory which “we learn by doing,” including singing, riding a bike — and saluting, for some.
Do you know your P’s and Q’s of QAPI?
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Feb 21, 2013
The Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement system from CMS is on our doorsteps. As facilities have been training and educating themselves, the new QIS (Quality Indicator Surveys) are ready to roll....
Reason for referral: Documentation tips for therapists
By
Renee Kinder
Mar 14, 2024
If you didn’t document it, it didn’t happen. How many times have we all heard those words? Today, I would like for us all to consider not merely the importance of documenting daily skilled care but...
Take me away — virtual reality (VR) coding rules for 2023
By
Renee Kinder
Dec 01, 2022
“Hey, you are the McKnight’s lady?” “The one that writes about rehab.” I am indeed. Those lines, during the past few months of conference season I have heard often. The questions also often come...
5 rules of the rehab screen
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Feb 25, 2014
What is the purpose of a rehabilitation screen? Very simply, we attempt to identify long-term residents’ needs and possible rehab potential. Somehow, we don’t really have an industry standard...
Oh me, oh my… thank goodness for CMMI!
By
Renee Kinder
Oct 21, 2021
There are two deep cleaning seasons in our household. Spring and fall. Fall cleaning includes the neighborhood kids closet rotation (I haven’t had to buy school khakis in three years!), washing...
Beware of hospital observation loopholes
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Dec 07, 2012
Hospitals have been undergoing more and more restrictions on re-admissions and are now facing financial penalties in some situations. Unfortunately, this has also resulted in more patients not being classified...
SNF Therapy Myths: Busted!
By
Renee Kinder
Feb 16, 2017
There are many myths surrounding rehab services in skilled nursing facilities. They often come from a lack of understanding of skilled care and a need to increase knowledge of Medicare regulations. I’ll...
Impact of Section GG, ANAs and Social Risk Factors (SRFs) on PAC outcomes
By
Renee Kinder
Aug 18, 2022
Tuesday evening, I began the painful eye roll-inducing process of organizing and sorting school supplies for our official start today. Two high schoolers, two middle schoolers, and one lower schooler...