The Therapy Certification Training for Healthcare Providers will educate healthcare providers (HCP) on how to handle patients who require regular physical therapy.
Certain services are billable to Medicare that patients may require. Physicians, non-physician practitioners, and qualified physical and occupational therapists may provide these services.
Therapists have many duties. For example, they must devise a plan of care that establishes a rehabilitation diagnosis and is individualized for each patient.
What You’ll Learn
- Responsibilities of therapists
- Medicare coverage of therapy services
- Therapy service documentation requirements
- How to establish a plan of care
- Therapy certifications/recertifications
Details
Course length: 45 minutes.
Languages: American English
Key features: Audio narration, learning activity, and post-assessment
Get Certified
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ACCME Accreditation
American Medical Compliance is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education to physicians. Our Continuing Medical Education (CME) program is committed to enhancing the knowledge, skills, and professional performance of healthcare providers to improve patient care outcomes. Through high-quality educational activities, we aim to address the identified educational gaps and to support the continuous professional development of our medical community. American Medical Compliance designates this activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should only claim this credit for their complete participation in this activity.
Therapy Services
Some services can only be provided by qualified professionals such as therapists. Qualified professionals are individuals who have the expertise, knowledge, and excellent clinical judgment. Therapists take on an active role in aiding patients with their treatment.
Oftentimes, therapists document their actions through clinical descriptions of treatment and any changes made to treatment plans. Therapists must exercise skilled judgment and organization. Learn more about the services therapists can provide by taking this training.
Outpatient Therapy Services
There are no longer any legal limits to how much Medicare will pay for medically necessary therapy services. Typically, Medicare Part B deductibles cover 80% of therapy services. Therefore, patients only need to pay for 20% of their therapy services. However, Medicare only pays for medically necessary therapy services. Therapists will give written notice before providing services that aren’t deemed medically necessary. This is referred to as an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage, or ABN. After receiving an ABN, you can determine whether or not you want to pay for the services that aren’t medically necessary. This course provides more information on Medicare coverage of therapy services.
Outpatient Therapists
Multiple healthcare providers can provide outpatient therapy services. For example, physical, occupational, and speech-language therapists can all provide these services.
Additionally, doctors and nurse practitioners can offer physical and occupational services. Therefore, patients have several options for where they can get outpatient services. Some offices offer private practices. Also, many medical offices can provide services.
Some hospitals have designated outpatient departments. Critical access hospitals (CAH) offer outpatient facilities.
Rehabilitation agencies often provide physical therapy services. Comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities (CORFs) provide more focused treatment for patients with severe physical impairment. Skilled nursing facilities are also available when patients do not have access to Medicare Part A. Notably, certain services can even be provided from the comfort of the patient’s home. Please refer to this training for more information on outpatient services.
Documentation of Services
Therapists must document several aspects of their services. For example, therapists must note patient evaluations and reevaluations.
The plan of care should include goals for the patient throughout treatment. All treatment plans must be documented appropriately. Additionally, therapists that receive certifications or recertifications should report these as well.
Good Documentation for Therapists
Therapists must document things for several reasons. First, it provides information on previous medical histories, such as diagnoses, conditions, and hospitalizations. Also, it gives a record of the patient’s level of function abilities, which is useful in measuring treatment progress. Documentation keeps therapists accountable and organized. Therapists can also make notes or recommendations within records. For example, they may suggest an accommodation that makes it easier for the patient to safely use the restroom.
All of these reasons show why proper documentation can help with better patient outcomes. Take this course to learn more about documentation requirements.
Plan of Care
All therapy services must be related to a specific treatment outcome or goal. The plan of care is established by the therapist or physician providing the services. It must be signed, dated, and have professional identification. Several minimum requirements must be in a plan of care.
The plan of care must discuss patient diagnoses and long-term treatment goals. Additionally, it must detail the type, amount, and duration of the services. Referrals and orders are also included in a plan of care.
Therapy Certification
Certification is a physician’s or nurse practitioner’s approval of a treatment plan. It indicates that the physician has recognized the therapy service that the patient requires. There are several acceptable forms of certification.
Physician progress notes and orders can act as certification. There is no specific form required.
Certifications and recertifications may be signed by physicians and nurse practitioners. Also, optometrists can certify low vision services.
Certification Timing
The initial certification is handled by the physician or nurse practitioner. The plan of care should be certified as soon as possible. This is within 30 days of the initial therapy treatment. Recertifications are for continued or modified therapy. They can be signed whenever there is a need for a significant change to the treatment plan.
Progress Reports
Progress reports are critical in therapy services. They can be written by clinicians or the physician providing the service. This course will give more detailed information on progress reports in therapy.
