April 18, 2019
NEWS ALERT: CMS Posts 2020 IRF Proposed Rule
Proposed rule calls amending regulations clarifying the determination as to whether a physician qualifies as a rehabilitation physician is made by the IRF. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a proposed rule for the inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) prospective payment system for the fiscal year 2020.…
January 17, 2019
PTA and OTA Participation in TRICARE: The Process is Underway
Military healthcare program expanding coverage following extensive lobbying campaign. The U.S Department of Defense has signaled the start of the process to authorize physical therapist assistants (PTAs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) as TRICARE providers. This mandate was specified under Section 721 of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).…
December 21, 2018
News Alert: CMS: Clarifies Counting of Student Therapy Minutes
IRFs can breathe easier; no change in policy. CMS has clarified the question of counting minutes of therapy provided by students. The Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) world reacted in shock to an unexpected statement made during a November Medicare Learning Network call wherein a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services…
In news long awaited by physical therapists in private practice, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released guidance implementing rules for the policy informally known as “locum tenens,” Latin for “to hold the place of, to substitute for.” Beginning on June 13, physical therapists (PTs) will be…