Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 I'm in the same situation as you- working for a hospital. I called CMS and was told that our individual therapists do not need an NPI- we use the facility number. The person I spoke to said that the NPI is to replace the provider ID's for those who currently submit claims. He said that the Billing office of the hospital would know who should get the NPI or not because the e-transaction form would have a place for it. He said that if we don't currently include any identification for therapists on our claims then we don't need to start doing so. He said to just include the information on the e-transaction form that is required. Currently, it's just the Attending provider, operating provider, referring provider. He said that the requirement of who gets " identified " has not changed- the new requirement is that everyone who currently submits claims, substitute their old identifier number for the new NPI. The only time a therapist would need an NPI is if they do individual billing; e.g. private pratice. Anyone who does professional billing, requires one. Our Billing Department also confirmed this with a reimbursement consultant. If you care to talk with the gentlemen that I did at CMS, it was: Stanley Nachimson . Lori Stoddart, OTR Inpatient Therapy Manager Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital Wyandotte, MI Lori Lori >>> Mourning.Todd@... 11/3/2006 11:04 AM >>> Greetings group. Relating to the NPI number, I practice in a hospital setting IP and OP and the hospital has a NPI number and all billing is done through the hospital (Pretty standard stuff). Do I as a PT have to have a NPI number as an individual also? Some confusion here between billing and myself. Thanks for your thoughts. Todd Mourning, PT Manager of Therapy Services Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital 315 8th Street Lincoln, IL 62656 x 179 (fax) mourning.todd@... This message (including any attachments) contains confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message. Any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 Every PT also has to have their own NPI number (see Medicare's guidelines). Their number stays with them at any location they work. E. , DPT Bodyscape Integrative Physical Therapy Pasadena, CA From: Mourning, Todd To: PTManager Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2006 10:04:21 -0600 Subject: NPI number <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC " -//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN " " http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd " > <html> <head> </head> <!-- Network content --> <body style= " background-color: #ffffff; " > <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStartT|**|-~--> <div id= " ygrp-mlmsg " style= " width:655px; position:relative; " > <div id= " ygrp-msg " style= " width: 490px; padding: 0 15px 0 0; float:left; z-index:1; " > <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlEndT|**|-~--> <div id= " ygrp-text " > <p>Greetings group. Relating to the NPI number, I practice in a hospital<br> setting IP and OP and the hospital has a NPI number and all billing is<br> done through the hospital (Pretty standard stuff). Do I as a PT have to<br> have a NPI number as an individual also? Some confusion here between<br> billing and myself.<br> <br> Thanks for your thoughts.<br> <br> Todd Mourning, PT<br> <br> Manager of Therapy Services<br> <br> Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital<br> <br> 315 8th Street<br> <br> Lincoln, IL 62656<br> <br> x 179<br> <br> (fax)<br> <br> <a href= " mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com " >mourning.todd@<wbr>mhsil.com</a> <mailto:<a href= " mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com " >mourning.todd@<wbr>mhsil.com</a>> <br> <br> This message (including any attachments) contains confidential information intended for a <br> specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, <br> you should delete this message. Any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the <br> taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited.<br> <br> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 Thanks very much for the info, Lori. I may try calling your CMS contact next week because I just heard from our Billing Director that in addition to the field for the hospital's NPI number at the top of the new UB04, there is another box (#76) that requires the NPI of the " attending provider " who has overall responsibility for the care of the patient. We're assuming that for patients who come with a physician referral, we'll enter that physician's NPI, but for self-referred (non-Medicare) patients, we're wondering if we could enter a PT NPI there. If so, our therapists would need to get their own NPI's. Is anyone familiar with this 2nd NPI when a hospital is the primary provider? I'm hoping it might not be a required field. Marilyn Mount, PT Dept. of Rehab Services University Hospitals Case Medical Center 11100 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44106 Marilyn.Mount@... Re: NPI number I'm in the same situation as you- working for a hospital. I called CMS and was told that our individual therapists do not need an NPI- we use the facility number. The person I spoke to said that the NPI is to replace the provider ID's for those who currently submit claims. He said that the Billing office of the hospital would know who should get the NPI or not because the e-transaction form would have a place for it. He said that if we don't currently include any identification for therapists on our claims then we don't need to start doing so. He said to just include the information on the e-transaction form that is required. Currently, it's just the Attending provider, operating provider, referring provider. He said that the requirement of who gets " identified " has not changed- the new requirement is that everyone who currently submits claims, substitute their old identifier number for the new NPI. The only time a therapist would need an NPI is if they do individual billing; e.g. private pratice. Anyone who does professional billing, requires one. Our Billing Department also confirmed this with a reimbursement consultant. If you care to talk with the gentlemen that I did at CMS, it was: Stanley Nachimson . Lori Stoddart, OTR Inpatient Therapy Manager Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital Wyandotte, MI Lori Lori >>> Mourning.Todd@... 11/3/2006 11:04 AM >>> Greetings group. Relating to the NPI number, I practice in a hospital setting IP and OP and the hospital has a NPI number and all billing is done through the hospital (Pretty standard stuff). Do I as a PT have to have a NPI number as an individual also? Some confusion here between billing and myself. Thanks for your thoughts. Todd Mourning, PT Manager of Therapy Services Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital 315 8th Street Lincoln, IL 62656 x 179 (fax) mourning.todd@... CELEBRATING 140 YEARS of Caring for Cleveland. The enclosed information is STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL and is intended for the use of the addressee only. University Hospitals and its affiliates disclaim any responsibility for unauthorized disclosure of this information to anyone other than the addressee. Federal and Ohio law protect patient medical information, including psychiatric_disorders, (H.I.V) test results, A.I.Ds-related conditions, alcohol, and/or drug_dependence or abuse disclosed in this email. Federal regulation (42 CFR Part 2) and Ohio Revised Code section 5122.31 and 3701.243 prohibit disclosure of this information without the specific written consent of the person to whom it pertains, or as otherwise permitted by law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 Interestingly enough, this is the same information we got when we inquired at the beginning of the year. And we are hospital based. Supposedly, each individual therapist is supposed to get their own number even if the hospital has its own number, since the therapist's number is portable and will be in effect any place they choose to work. It sounds like CMS might be giving out conflicting information. Meryl Freeman, MS PT Rex Healthcare Raleigh, NC NPI number <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC " -//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN " " http://www.w3. <http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd> org/TR/html4/strict.dtd " > <html> <head> </head> <!-- Network content --> <body style= " background-color: #ffffff; " > <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStartT|**|-~--> <div id= " ygrp-mlmsg " style= " width:655px; position:relative; " > <div id= " ygrp-msg " style= " width: 490px; padding: 0 15px 0 0; float:left; z-index:1; " > <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlEndT|**|-~--> <div id= " ygrp-text " > <p>Greetings group. Relating to the NPI number, I practice in a hospital<br> setting IP and OP and the hospital has a NPI number and all billing is<br> done through the hospital (Pretty standard stuff). Do I as a PT have to<br> have a NPI number as an individual also? Some confusion here between<br> billing and myself.<br> <br> Thanks for your thoughts.<br> <br> Todd Mourning, PT<br> <br> Manager of Therapy Services<br> <br> Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital<br> <br> 315 8th Street<br> <br> Lincoln, IL 62656<br> <br> x 179<br> <br> (fax)<br> <br> <a href= " mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com " >mourning.todd@<wbr>mhsil.com</a> <mailto:<a href= " mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com " >mourning.todd@<wbr>mhsil.com</a>> <br> <br> This message (including any attachments) contains confidential information intended for a <br> specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, <br> you should delete this message. Any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the <br> taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited.<br> <br> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 We actually called NPI and were told that every practitioner who is certified or licensed (MD, RN, PT, PTA ,OT ,COTA ,SLP ,CNA) must have an NPI. But as was said earlier when we called CMS they stated just the facility needed it for billing purposes. NPI stated at any time the insurance you are billing may ask for copies of the NPI's of all healthcare providers treating that patient for their records. My suggestion is to get your NPI as it is free right now and if you change work venues you will definitely need it anyways. Bobbie Jo Sonnier,MS,PT Manager, Therapy Services HomeChoice Health Services, Inc Memphis, TN bsonnier@... _____ From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of Freeman, Meryl Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 8:28 AM To: 'PTManager ' Subject: RE: NPI number Interestingly enough, this is the same information we got when we inquired at the beginning of the year. And we are hospital based. Supposedly, each individual therapist is supposed to get their own number even if the hospital has its own number, since the therapist's number is portable and will be in effect any place they choose to work. It sounds like CMS might be giving out conflicting information. Meryl Freeman, MS PT Rex Healthcare Raleigh, NC NPI number <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC " -//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN " " http://www.w3. <http://www.w3. <http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd> org/TR/html4/strict.dtd> org/TR/html4/strict.dtd " > <html> <head> </head> <!-- Network content --> <body style= " background-color: #ffffff; " > <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStartT|**|-~--> <div id= " ygrp-mlmsg " style= " width:655px; position:relative; " > <div id= " ygrp-msg " style= " width: 490px; padding: 0 15px 0 0; float:left; z-index:1; " > <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlEndT|**|-~--> <div id= " ygrp-text " > <p>Greetings group. Relating to the NPI number, I practice in a hospital<br> setting IP and OP and the hospital has a NPI number and all billing is<br> done through the hospital (Pretty standard stuff). Do I as a PT have to<br> have a NPI number as an individual also? Some confusion here between<br> billing and myself.<br> <br> Thanks for your thoughts.<br> <br> Todd Mourning, PT<br> <br> Manager of Therapy Services<br> <br> Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital<br> <br> 315 8th Street<br> <br> Lincoln, IL 62656<br> <br> x 179<br> <br> (fax)<br> <br> <a href= " mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com " >mourning.todd@<wbr>mhsil.com</a> <mailto:<a href= " mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com " >mourning.todd@<wbr>mhsil.com</a>> <br> <br> This message (including any attachments) contains confidential information intended for a <br> specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, <br> you should delete this message. Any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the <br> taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited.<br> <br> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 The way that I understand it is that anyone defined as a covered entity is eligible to receive an NPI. Eligible, in my opinion, doesn't mean has to. BUT. If you're eligible to receive one, regardless of whether you have to or not, I think it just makes sense to do it. I think it's less of " do I have to " and more of " why not " . If your employer is saying that you need one, there's probably a reason that they need it. The definition of " covered entity " is really the key here. If you are a covered entity, you are required to have an NPI. If you're not, you don't have to have one. To find out if you are a covered entity, go to: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/hipaa2decisionsupport/. Just a side note, the rule is clear that just because you apply and receive an NPI, it doesn't automatically make you a covered entity. But, if you ever become one, you've got your number. the number stays with you wherever you go so you don't need to keep reapplying if you become a covered entity. Here is information from the CMS website on how to apply: A health care provider will be able to apply for an NPI in one of three ways: .. Apply through a web-based application process. The web address is https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov. .. Prepare and send a paper application form to the Enumerator (Fox Systems). A copy of the application form, which includes the Enumerator's mailing address, will be available only upon request through the NPI Enumerator. The Enumerator's phone number is 1- or TTY 1-. .. With the permission of the health care provider, an organization may submit a health care provider's application in an electronic file. Tessa Tessa L. Chenaille, CHC, CHP President & CEO Chenaille Compliance Consulting, LLC 5 Ross Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155 P: F: W: <http://www.chenailleconsulting.com> www.chenailleconsulting.com " The time to fix the roof is when the sun is still shining. " - F. Kennedy _____ From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of Freeman, Meryl Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 9:28 AM To: 'PTManager ' Subject: RE: NPI number Interestingly enough, this is the same information we got when we inquired at the beginning of the year. And we are hospital based. Supposedly, each individual therapist is supposed to get their own number even if the hospital has its own number, since the therapist's number is portable and will be in effect any place they choose to work. It sounds like CMS might be giving out conflicting information. Meryl Freeman, MS PT Rex Healthcare Raleigh, NC NPI number <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC " -//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN " " http://www.w3. <http://www.w3. <http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd> org/TR/html4/strict.dtd> org/TR/html4/strict.dtd " > <html> <head> </head> <!-- Network content --> <body style= " background-color: #ffffff; " > <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStartT|**|-~--> <div id= " ygrp-mlmsg " style= " width:655px; position:relative; " > <div id= " ygrp-msg " style= " width: 490px; padding: 0 15px 0 0; float:left; z-index:1; " > <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlEndT|**|-~--> <div id= " ygrp-text " > <p>Greetings group. Relating to the NPI number, I practice in a hospital<br> setting IP and OP and the hospital has a NPI number and all billing is<br> done through the hospital (Pretty standard stuff). Do I as a PT have to<br> have a NPI number as an individual also? Some confusion here between<br> billing and myself.<br> <br> Thanks for your thoughts.<br> <br> Todd Mourning, PT<br> <br> Manager of Therapy Services<br> <br> Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital<br> <br> 315 8th Street<br> <br> Lincoln, IL 62656<br> <br> x 179<br> <br> (fax)<br> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 PT Manager, I had something interesting pop up the other day. I evaluated a new patient with neck pain due to a severe MVA resulting in a non displaced fracture of C2 followed by 3 months in a halo and another 3 months in a rigid cervical collar. At the suggestion of her Neurologist she saw a massage therapist who was apparently also an RN. The MT/RN issued cervical exercises including AROM LF, same with overpressure, and isometrics at her first visit as well as delivering massage. My question is whether exercise instruction is within the practice act of an RN (unable to determine that by reviewing the act in CO) or allowed under the scope of " practice " for a massage therapist. I guess RN's can be added to the list of other healthcare practitioners who want to play PT. I suppose that anyone can give exercise instruction if they are not billing third party payers? Incidentally the patient reported a marked increase in pain following the exercise given to her by the RN and only sort term relief after the actual massage. Big surprise to me. Cookie cutter exercises usually have that effect. I just thinks it's a shame that people who do not have the means to determine what exercises will or will not help the patient are giving advice on such things. Joe Ruzich, PT Pueblo, CO .. <http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=1100781/grpspId=1705061347/msgId =38118/stime=1162583402> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 I have read the CMS guidelines and it only makes reference to Healthcare workers being " eligible " - no where does it state that it's required or mandatory. That's why I called CMS myself to seek clarification. Lori Stoddart Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital Lori >>> pilates4u@... 11/3/2006 6:25 PM >>> Every PT also has to have their own NPI number (see Medicare's guidelines). Their number stays with them at any location they work. E. , DPT Bodyscape Integrative Physical Therapy Pasadena, CA From: Mourning, Todd To: PTManager Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2006 10:04:21 -0600 Subject: NPI number <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC " -//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN " " http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd " > <html> <head> </head> <!-- Network content --> <body style= " background-color: #ffffff; " > <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStartT|**|-~--> <div id= " ygrp-mlmsg " style= " width:655px; position:relative; " > <div id= " ygrp-msg " style= " width: 490px; padding: 0 15px 0 0; float:left; z-index:1; " > <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlEndT|**|-~--> <div id= " ygrp-text " > <p>Greetings group. Relating to the NPI number, I practice in a hospital<br> setting IP and OP and the hospital has a NPI number and all billing is<br> done through the hospital (Pretty standard stuff). Do I as a PT have to<br> have a NPI number as an individual also? Some confusion here between<br> billing and myself.<br> <br> Thanks for your thoughts.<br> <br> Todd Mourning, PT<br> <br> Manager of Therapy Services<br> <br> Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital<br> <br> 315 8th Street<br> <br> Lincoln, IL 62656<br> <br> x 179<br> <br> (fax)<br> <br> <a href= " mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com " >mourning.todd@<wbr>mhsil.com</a> <mailto:<a href= " mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com " >mourning.todd@<wbr>mhsil.com</a>> <br> <br> This message (including any attachments) contains confidential information intended for a <br> specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, <br> you should delete this message. Any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the <br> taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited.<br> <br> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Please let me know if you hear otherwise. Our reimbursement consultant agreed that we don't need them for our therapists. I'll have to ask about the box #76. I'm assuming that it's the attending physician. We don't have any " self-referrals " ; we only provide services under the direction of a physician. Lori >>> Marilyn.Mount@... 11/3/2006 6:46 PM >>> Thanks very much for the info, Lori. I may try calling your CMS contact next week because I just heard from our Billing Director that in addition to the field for the hospital's NPI number at the top of the new UB04, there is another box (#76) that requires the NPI of the " attending provider " who has overall responsibility for the care of the patient. We're assuming that for patients who come with a physician referral, we'll enter that physician's NPI, but for self-referred (non-Medicare) patients, we're wondering if we could enter a PT NPI there. If so, our therapists would need to get their own NPI's. Is anyone familiar with this 2nd NPI when a hospital is the primary provider? I'm hoping it might not be a required field. Marilyn Mount, PT Dept. of Rehab Services University Hospitals Case Medical Center 11100 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44106 Marilyn.Mount@... Re: NPI number I'm in the same situation as you- working for a hospital. I called CMS and was told that our individual therapists do not need an NPI- we use the facility number. The person I spoke to said that the NPI is to replace the provider ID's for those who currently submit claims. He said that the Billing office of the hospital would know who should get the NPI or not because the e-transaction form would have a place for it. He said that if we don't currently include any identification for therapists on our claims then we don't need to start doing so. He said to just include the information on the e-transaction form that is required. Currently, it's just the Attending provider, operating provider, referring provider. He said that the requirement of who gets " identified " has not changed- the new requirement is that everyone who currently submits claims, substitute their old identifier number for the new NPI. The only time a therapist would need an NPI is if they do individual billing; e.g. private pratice. Anyone who does professional billing, requires one. Our Billing Department also confirmed this with a reimbursement consultant. If you care to talk with the gentlemen that I did at CMS, it was: Stanley Nachimson . Lori Stoddart, OTR Inpatient Therapy Manager Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital Wyandotte, MI Lori Lori >>> Mourning.Todd@... 11/3/2006 11:04 AM >>> Greetings group. Relating to the NPI number, I practice in a hospital setting IP and OP and the hospital has a NPI number and all billing is done through the hospital (Pretty standard stuff). Do I as a PT have to have a NPI number as an individual also? Some confusion here between billing and myself. Thanks for your thoughts. Todd Mourning, PT Manager of Therapy Services Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital 315 8th Street Lincoln, IL 62656 x 179 (fax) mourning.todd@... CELEBRATING 140 YEARS of Caring for Cleveland. The enclosed information is STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL and is intended for the use of the addressee only. University Hospitals and its affiliates disclaim any responsibility for unauthorized disclosure of this information to anyone other than the addressee. Federal and Ohio law protect patient medical information, including psychiatric_disorders, (H.I.V) test results, A.I.Ds-related conditions, alcohol, and/or drug_dependence or abuse disclosed in this email. Federal regulation (42 CFR Part 2) and Ohio Revised Code section 5122.31 and 3701.243 prohibit disclosure of this information without the specific written consent of the person to whom it pertains, or as otherwise permitted by law. ============================================================================== Go to http://henryford.com We're Henry Ford. We Can. HFHS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2006 Report Share Posted November 8, 2006 plus, if you ever relocate you have your own NPI # and you can also do all your credentialing on line at:_https://caqh.geoaccess.com/pmm/_ (https://caqh.geoaccess.com/pmm/) and that way you never have to complete another 25+ pages of applications. Plus you can update it as you get new license, professional liability insurance, etc. Bubba Klostermann OT, CVE, CEAS CEO, WORK & REHAB 4546 South 14 th Abilene, Texas 79605 phone: fax: email: bubklo@... This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are the property of WORK & REHAB, are confidential, and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom this e-mail is addressed. If you are not one of the named recipient(s) or otherwise have reason to believe that you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete this message immediately from your computer. Any other use, retention, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2006 Report Share Posted November 8, 2006 Why not just get one? It takes about 5 minutes online and you get the number a few mniutes later. That's a lot less time thanit takes to read CMSguidelines and call CMS about it. Layman, PT Moreno Valley, CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2006 Report Share Posted November 8, 2006 Joe, Unfortunaetely, there is not much we can do here except EDUCATE our pts---it is just as if that person would have gone to the internet and downloaded some ex's and started doing them. However, the MT/RN shld have had some sense of professional responsiblity and shld not have given advice on such ex's especially knowing the pt's hx of cervical fracture. It is a shame. I always tell my pts exercise is like medicine---and shld be dosed by a specialist---aka PT----if you do too much you can make yourself worse----if you don't do enough or do it right----it won't help----once I explain that to my pts and put in that perspective----it really hits home w/ them Good luck JOE!!!! RON MASRI. MPT, ATC Joe Ruzich wrote: PT Manager, I had something interesting pop up the other day. I evaluated a new patient with neck pain due to a severe MVA resulting in a non displaced fracture of C2 followed by 3 months in a halo and another 3 months in a rigid cervical collar. At the suggestion of her Neurologist she saw a massage therapist who was apparently also an RN. The MT/RN issued cervical exercises including AROM LF, same with overpressure, and isometrics at her first visit as well as delivering massage. My question is whether exercise instruction is within the practice act of an RN (unable to determine that by reviewing the act in CO) or allowed under the scope of " practice " for a massage therapist. I guess RN's can be added to the list of other healthcare practitioners who want to play PT. I suppose that anyone can give exercise instruction if they are not billing third party payers? Incidentally the patient reported a marked increase in pain following the exercise given to her by the RN and only sort term relief after the actual massage. Big surprise to me. Cookie cutter exercises usually have that effect. I just thinks it's a shame that people who do not have the means to determine what exercises will or will not help the patient are giving advice on such things. Joe Ruzich, PT Pueblo, CO .. <http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=1100781/grpspId=1705061347/msgId =38118/stime=1162583402> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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