Re: Marketing from the land of the bizarre

[Guest guest]

I have seen this in the Chicago area for many years. Wonder about

liability?

J Pleva, PT

Outpatient Clinic Manager

Community Physical Therapy

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf

Of Rapposelli

Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 1:26 PM

To: PTMAnager

Subject: Marketing from the land of the bizarre

Just when I thought it couldn't get sillier.....

In my town, there are practices who provide free transportation for patients

to PT. No big deal, not something I would want to do, but 'to each his

peach'. Now, they are providing free transportation to patients TO THEIR

DOCTOR'S OFFICE, not just PT!!!

Is anyone else seeing this in their community? Looks like I won't be

needing to give out pens this year to doctors!

Perhaps this is a alternate view of Vision 2020 and our 'professionalism'!

[Guest guest]

I have seen this in the Chicago area for many years. Wonder about

liability?

J Pleva, PT

Outpatient Clinic Manager

Community Physical Therapy

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf

Of Rapposelli

Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 1:26 PM

To: PTMAnager

Subject: Marketing from the land of the bizarre

Just when I thought it couldn't get sillier.....

In my town, there are practices who provide free transportation for patients

to PT. No big deal, not something I would want to do, but 'to each his

peach'. Now, they are providing free transportation to patients TO THEIR

DOCTOR'S OFFICE, not just PT!!!

Is anyone else seeing this in their community? Looks like I won't be

needing to give out pens this year to doctors!

Perhaps this is a alternate view of Vision 2020 and our 'professionalism'!

[Guest guest]

While I hear sarcasm in 's email, and maybe a little frustration that

as a profession we undermine ourselves with such tactics, I actually say

good for them. I mean it would be nice that we don't have to go to such

lengths but then again it would be nice if MD's couldn't open up their own

PT clinics and encroach on our profession, or we could actually evaluate and

treat a pt without an Rx and have the insurance companies pay for it. I

think it's clever that they pay for transportation, maybe the MD's will

appreciate it and refer more patients. The fact is, as long as we rely on MD

referrals (for the most part), we have to continue to come up with ethical

and legal ways to market to them, and to me this appears to be just that.

Mike Rizkalla

Trinity Rehab, NJ

[Guest guest]

While I hear sarcasm in 's email, and maybe a little frustration that

as a profession we undermine ourselves with such tactics, I actually say

good for them. I mean it would be nice that we don't have to go to such

lengths but then again it would be nice if MD's couldn't open up their own

PT clinics and encroach on our profession, or we could actually evaluate and

treat a pt without an Rx and have the insurance companies pay for it. I

think it's clever that they pay for transportation, maybe the MD's will

appreciate it and refer more patients. The fact is, as long as we rely on MD

referrals (for the most part), we have to continue to come up with ethical

and legal ways to market to them, and to me this appears to be just that.

Mike Rizkalla

Trinity Rehab, NJ

[Guest guest]

,

I had predicted something like this at least a year ago to my office manager ...

jokingly. It's interesting that it's come to a reality. Next, someone will

wake them up in the morning, cook them breakfast, drive them in to their

appointment, give them a complementary pack of cigarettes and a 6 pack on their

way out, stop by the casino on the way home (to let 'em take a few turns at the

slots), and provide turn-down service at night.

Marketing from the land of the bizarre

Just when I thought it couldn't get sillier.....

In my town, there are practices who provide free transportation for patients

to PT. No big deal, not something I would want to do, but 'to each his peach'.

Now, they are providing free transportation to patients TO THEIR DOCTOR'S

OFFICE, not just PT!!!

Is anyone else seeing this in their community? Looks like I won't be needing

to give out pens this year to doctors!

Perhaps this is a alternate view of Vision 2020 and our 'professionalism'!

[Guest guest]

I was asked to consult in a situation very similar to this. A clinic certified

as a CORF was transporting patients from private homes and from board and care

facilities. Each patient was receiving PT, OT and in many cases Respiratory

Therapy. They had a physician on staff as well. About 90 treatments a day were

billed for. It was essentially a day care for elderly non-english speaking

Medicare beneficiaries. They lost their Medicare certification.

About two months later I received a call from one of the owners asking if I knew

good health care attorney? A follow up call inquired whether the attorney had

experience with the FBI?

If your neighbor is anything like what I witnessed, there is likely less than

ethical activity taking place and the transportation is probably behavior that

is meant to " induce referrals " . It will be interpreted as a kickback because it

is not a general practice and is of monetary value over a threshold the federal

government deems acceptable. Both the owner(s) of the therapy practice and the

physician are placing themselves in jeopardy.

If federal funds are involved CMS, OIG and the FBI may be interested in

reviewing this practice.

Ron Wall

Axiom Healthcare Group

Ontario, CA

To: PTMAnager

From: ppt4you@...

Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:26:17 -0700

Subject: Marketing from the land of the bizarre

Just when I thought it couldn't get sillier.....

In my town, there are practices who provide free transportation for patients to

PT. No big deal, not something I would want to do, but 'to each his peach'.

Now, they are providing free transportation to patients TO THEIR DOCTOR'S

OFFICE, not just PT!!!

Is anyone else seeing this in their community? Looks like I won't be needing to

give out pens this year to doctors!

Perhaps this is a alternate view of Vision 2020 and our 'professionalism'!

[Guest guest]

With the cost of gas, paying an employee to play taxi driver, and the potential

liability, how could anyone turn a profit doing this???

It must be one of those 35+ patients per day per therapist (all billed 4 units

of one-to-one CPT codes) clinics that i've heard some of my patients talking

about.

Or....New math?

Jon Mark Pleasant, PT

>

> Just when I thought it couldn't get sillier.....

> In my town, there are practices who provide free transportation for patients

to PT.  No big deal, not something I would want to do, but 'to each his peach'. 

Now, they are providing free transportation to patients TO THEIR DOCTOR'S

OFFICE, not just PT!!!

> Is anyone else seeing this in their community?  Looks like I won't be needing

to give out pens this year to doctors!

> Perhaps this is a alternate view of Vision 2020 and our 'professionalism'!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Well, it all started when we began filing claims for them. Wouldn't it have

been great to practice in the day when the patient paid, you gave them your

receipt and then THEY dealt with the insurance company.

Also, you didn't have as many insurance company shenanigans, denials, etc.

because if they ticked off the employee, the employee would complain to the

employer.....and they didn't want that. Now, if the provider complains, who

cares, we don't pay premium....in their eyes we only cost them money.

Matt Capo, PT

Accelerated Physical Therapy and Occupational Health, Inc.

Bay St. Louis and Diamondhead, MIssissippi

Re: Marketing from the land of the bizarre

,

I had predicted something like this at least a year ago to my office manager ...

jokingly. It's interesting that it's come to a reality. Next, someone will

wake them up in the morning, cook them breakfast, drive them in to their

appointment, give them a complementary pack of cigarettes and a 6 pack on their

way out, stop by the casino on the way home (to let 'em take a few turns at the

slots), and provide turn-down service at night.

Marketing from the land of the bizarre

Just when I thought it couldn't get sillier.....

In my town, there are practices who provide free transportation for patients

to PT. No big deal, not something I would want to do, but 'to each his peach'.

Now, they are providing free transportation to patients TO THEIR DOCTOR'S

OFFICE, not just PT!!!

Is anyone else seeing this in their community? Looks like I won't be needing

to give out pens this year to doctors!

Perhaps this is a alternate view of Vision 2020 and our 'professionalism'!