2011 PM&R CPT Code Definition - Skilled PT Sevices

[Guest guest]

It has been noticed that in the 2011 CPT book that a new paragraph/definition

has been inserted at the beginning of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

codes. This new paragraph states:

" The work of the qualified healthcare professional consists of face-to-face time

with the patient(and caregiver, if applicable) delivering skilled services. For

the purpose of determining the total time of a service, incremental intervals of

treatment at the same visit may be accumulated. "

I would like to hear from others on this listserv what their interpretation of

this paragraph means. Does it mean that only the skilled professional's time is

counted towards billing for that code thereby excluding the use of

" extenders/techs " when billing for the codes (now Medicare or not because it is

defined by the CPT book, not by a contractual obligation with an insurance

company)?

Let me know what you interpret this paragraph to mean?

Thanks,

Terry Stegman, PT, MS, Eng-Phy, BS