Guest guest Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Hello group, I recently was working in a nursing home as a contractor and the activity people had purchased a Wii for the nursing home residents. It is incredible....The residents love it and I wonder how people are billing for this activity. I could see that it is a great balance, hand eye coordination activity and could be used many others ways as well, I just read a great article about it in one of the magazines for PT. Any imput??? Can we bill medicare and what codes? I also have a small private practice and am considering the purchase of one of these...Thankyou, Leanora Premeau MPT, At Home Rehab LLC, Salida, Colorado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Leanora- Let me first mention that I am not involved in direct clinic management at this time, so I may be slightly out of the loop with the current use of Wii in various practices. As a professional who represents a profession that is moving toward a doctoring profession and offers skilled, unique physical therapy services to patients, I am disappointed at the idea of using the Wii system as a billable service. My current opinion is that the Wii system is best placed in a recreational activity department or as an activity that is offered above and beyond skilled therapy services, not a billable service of physical therapy. I have a Wii system and the Wii fit. Though I agree with it being a great tool for balance, hand-eye coordination, etc... there are operational and structural components of the Wii that limit or do not require completion of appropriate biomechanics and movement strategies to participate in the activities. I am open to investigating the use of Wii if we rationalize the use of it as professionals and we have evidence as to why it should be a billable service. At this point, in my opinion, it seems as ridiculous to bill for it as it is ridiculous that people in the US are paying personal trainers a good amount of money per session to be " trained " on the Wii. Robyn Wilhelm, PT, MPT Pima Medical Institute PTA Program Director Interim Director of Clinical Education 957 S. Dobson Rd. Mesa, AZ 85202 Prospective Students: Pima Medical Institute is seeking accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association. The program has submitted an Application for Candidacy of a Physical Therapist Assistant Education Program, which is the formal application in the pre-accreditation stage. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted candidate for accreditation status nor does it assure that the program will be granted initial accreditation. From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of leanora premeau Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008 6:42 AM To: ptmanager Subject: Wii/coding and billing Hello group, I recently was working in a nursing home as a contractor and the activity people had purchased a Wii for the nursing home residents. It is incredible....The residents love it and I wonder how people are billing for this activity. I could see that it is a great balance, hand eye coordination activity and could be used many others ways as well, I just read a great article about it in one of the magazines for PT. Any imput??? Can we bill medicare and what codes? I also have a small private practice and am considering the purchase of one of these...Thankyou, Leanora Premeau MPT, At Home Rehab LLC, Salida, Colorado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 You bill for the activity you are doing - neuro re-ed if it's balance retraining; therapeutic activity if it is fine motor; therapeutic exercise if it is strengthening. Identify the purpose for which you are using the Wii and bill accordingly. We've had a Wii for a couple of months now in our OP clinic and it is a great additional tool available for treatment. I have read an article that indicates that in your documentation you should not document " use of Wii " since that is a licensed name...but rather just document the activity that you are working on (ie, balance, fine motor, etc.). Apparently the use of the name Wii in documentation isn't appreciated much by Nintendo?!?! Anyway, that's my opinion. Cederlind, OTR/L Director of Rehabilitation Services Emanuel Medical Center Turlock, CA Ph: Fax: kristen.cederlind@... >>> leanora premeau 9/12/2008 6:42 am >>> Hello group, I recently was working in a nursing home as a contractor and the activity people had purchased a Wii for the nursing home residents. It is incredible....The residents love it and I wonder how people are billing for this activity. I could see that it is a great balance, hand eye coordination activity and could be used many others ways as well, I just read a great article about it in one of the magazines for PT. Any imput??? Can we bill medicare and what codes? I also have a small private practice and am considering the purchase of one of these...Thankyou, Leanora Premeau MPT, At Home Rehab LLC, Salida, Colorado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 seems to me it would be just an adjunct modality to your dynamic or kinetic activity ex's. and billed inclusive to those. Mark Niles PT, MS, CSCS Orthopedic Specialists PA mniles@... x3 fax This message, together with any attachments, is intended only for the addressee. It may contain information which is legally privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, use, or any action or reliance on this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone ( x3) or by return e-mail and delete the message, along with any attachments Wii/coding and billing Hello group, I recently was working in a nursing home as a contractor and the activity people had purchased a Wii for the nursing home residents. It is incredible....The residents love it and I wonder how people are billing for this activity. I could see that it is a great balance, hand eye coordination activity and could be used many others ways as well, I just read a great article about it in one of the magazines for PT. Any imput??? Can we bill medicare and what codes? I also have a small private practice and am considering the purchase of one of these...Thankyou, Leanora Premeau MPT, At Home Rehab LLC, Salida, Colorado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Your charge codes should reflect the intent of your treatment. If you are working on balance and coordination then neuro-reeducation would be appropriate. If you intend to increase functional movement and strength then Therapeutic Activity is the right charge. The fact that you are using a Wii to augment the therapy is irrelevant. Make sure the therapy is related to functional deficits and goals. Thanks to Wallace and Rick Gawenda - I am merely a portal for their wisdom! Jeff Wheeler PT GCS Tukwila, WA > > Hello group, > I recently was working in a nursing home as a contractor and the activity people had purchased a Wii for the nursing home residents. It is incredible....The residents love it and I wonder how people are billing for this activity. I could see that it is a great balance, hand eye coordination activity and could be used many others ways as well, I just read a great article about it in one of the magazines for PT. Any imput??? Can we bill medicare and what codes? I also have a small private practice and am considering the purchase of one of these...Thankyou, Leanora Premeau MPT, At Home Rehab LLC, Salida, Colorado > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Hi we have been using the WII in our facility since Feb and bill for ther activities which includes balance, coord, etc and then document in our notes what activity they played. Shari France Subject: Wii/coding and billing To: ptmanager Date: Friday, September 12, 2008, 6:42 AM Hello group, I recently was working in a nursing home as a contractor and the activity people had purchased a Wii for the nursing home residents. It is incredible.. ...The residents love it and I wonder how people are billing for this activity. I could see that it is a great balance, hand eye coordination activity and could be used many others ways as well, I just read a great article about it in one of the magazines for PT. Any imput??? Can we bill medicare and what codes? I also have a small private practice and am considering the purchase of one of these...Thankyou, Leanora Premeau MPT, At Home Rehab LLC, Salida, Colorado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Leanora, I just submitted a proposal for a Wii, Wii Fit, and a flat screen. I was motivated to action by the Advance article too, even though we talked about it a year ago. The HD either LCD or Plasma TVs have really come down in price and take up far less space. I think the HD is a key for people who have limited vision because it is so much clearer than other formats. I see it as any other treatment - code what you are working on and describe the use of whatever tools or strategies are used that session to try to achieve the functional goals. For example, Therapeutic Activity to increase balance reactions would be coded the same if you used a foam pad or the Wii Fit. That is what we plan, the Wii is another tool. What we believe it will help motivation and make whatever the therapist is working on more fun for the patient. We think they will work longer and maybe even look forward to the sessions. I think it will show very well and be accepted by family and friends. The staff is excited, we have even thought about chipping in to buy Guitar Hero for the staff to use at lunch! Thanks, Wade Wade McDowell, OTR Director of Inpatient Rehabilitation Activities Director Family Health West PO Box 130 228 North Cherry Fruita, CO 81521 Phone: Fax: _____ From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of leanora premeau Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008 6:42 AM To: ptmanager Subject: Wii/coding and billing Hello group, I recently was working in a nursing home as a contractor and the activity people had purchased a Wii for the nursing home residents. It is incredible....The residents love it and I wonder how people are billing for this activity. I could see that it is a great balance, hand eye coordination activity and could be used many others ways as well, I just read a great article about it in one of the magazines for PT. Any imput??? Can we bill medicare and what codes? I also have a small private practice and am considering the purchase of one of these...Thankyou, Leanora Premeau MPT, At Home Rehab LLC, Salida, Colorado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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