January 1 will put new evaluation codes for physical and occupational therapy into effect and we all better be paying close attention.
It’s time for ‘the talk’ about healthcare fraud
By
John O'Connor
Aug 01, 2016
Some necessary conversations tend to be awkward and uncomfortable. They include talking to our children about baby making. Or convincing our parents to give up the car keys. Or talking to government investigators...
Nursing homes and loopholes, a love story
By
John O'Connor
Aug 31, 2015
You can bet that nursing home-hired actuaries, lawyers, consultants and other assorted bean counters are going over new rules with a fine-tooth comb. They are looking for the next generation of potential...
Regaining an appreciation of prevention
By
Tara Roberts
Feb 05, 2015
Healthcare is mandated to reduce spending. The problem is that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and others are so blinded by the “reduce spending” element that we have lost our...
Learning about doll therapy
By
Bruce Barnet
Dec 26, 2014
Many long-term facilities are turning to doll therapy to help their residents. Some therapists use the term “Nurture Therapy,” as they feel it is more appropriate when dealing with adult patients...
Good staff and quality equipment increase outcomes
By
Keith McCrate
Dec 12, 2014
At Presbyterian Village North in Dallas, TX, we offer services in assisted living, skilled nursing, certified Alzheimer and dementia care, hospice and palliative care, and inpatient and outpatient rehab....
Should SNF therapy vendors use QAPI?
By
Tara Roberts
Nov 06, 2014
While some long-term care providers have been slower to look at QAPI processes, others are ready to implement. Therapy vendors also should be considering adopting and operationalizing QAPI.
Have we lost our connection to what’s important?
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Aug 15, 2014
We sometimes use high-minded phrases to describe our work and our hopes for our patients. But have we lost our connection to important words? Do they still hold meaning they once did, and if so, how strongly?
Pay for performance, medical necessity and Jimmo
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jun 04, 2014
Why would anyone mention value-based reimbursement, medical necessity and the Jimmo lawsuit in the same sentence? I feel they are all related, but it will be difficult to find the perfect balancing act...
Feature: All together now
By
John Hall
Feb 01, 2014
Rehabilitation professionals still are navigating challenges of providing group, concurrent therapies in a world that has come to value individual therapy more