When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services implemented its latest rounds of new and stricter regulations, the groan was heard throughout nursing homes across the country. But, I have good news:...
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.
Whose life is it anyway?
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Sep 21, 2023
My family is full of therapists, and most of us work in skilled nursing. My sister, an experienced speech language pathologist, called to commiserate about one of her patients who had difficulty swallowing. ...
Aquatic Therapy: Understanding use and benefits
By
Renee Kinder
Sep 15, 2022
One of my grandfather’s favorite stories to tell about my stubborn childhood antics revolves around the first summer they opened their pool. Spoiler alert, I couldn’t swim. I somehow, however, managed...
No more Rehab Medium RUG defaults
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Oct 08, 2013
Well, Oct. 1 has passed, and we’re all still hanging in. The biggest changes we saw to rehab were the addition of reporting co-treatment minutes on our billing logs and Section O on the MDS. And,...
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...
Better managing the Medicare Part A stay
By
Kris Mastrangelo, OTR, MBA, LNHA
Feb 21, 2012
Discharge planning is the key element in managing Medicare Part A length of stay. A home assessment can significantly affect the process.
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...
Therapy cuts are here
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Feb 11, 2022
We are over a month into 2022 and have already billed the first month of the 15% reduction in therapy reimbursement for our Medicare patients. You’ll recall that Jan. 1, 2022, was the day that Medicare Part...
Cracking new PT and OT evaluation codes
By
Renee Kinder
Nov 17, 2016
January 1 will put new evaluation codes for physical and occupational therapy into effect and we all better be paying close attention.