RE: PT Students Treating Medicare Patients

[Guest guest]

My Understanding is the therapist must be there and directing the

treatment for Medicare pts. My question is how best to document this so

it is as clear as possible that that is what truly happened. Does one

avoid having the student document this directly supervised treatment in

order to avoid the appearance that the therapist might have only signed

off on the note, or can we allow a student to write the note, sign, and

the therapist then signs, and writes something to the effect of

" therapist present and directing session at all times. " ?

Pierre H. Rougny, PT, OCS

Director of Rehab Services

Sebasticook Valley Hospital

141 Leighton St

Pittsfield, Me 04967

, 487-4072(direct line)

________________________________

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On

Behalf Of mlavcavitt@...

Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 3:56 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: PT Students Treating Medicare Patients

Dear Group,

I read that a PT student cannot treat or bill for Medicare patients

unless

the supervising PT is treating along side the student and the PT has no

other patients scheduled during that time slot. Is this correct?

If yes, does this rule apply only to Medicare or to all insurance

carriers?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

D. Cavitt, President

Medical Legal Alliance, LLC

600 Guilbeau Road, Suite A

Lafayette, LA 70506

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You are correct when it concerns a Medicare Part B patient. The therapist

must provide personal supervision and be responsible for the care and the

direction of the student's treatment. The billing to Medicare is for the

therapist's time. You can find the regulation in the CMS Coverage Manual,

Pub. 100-02 at www.cms.gov/manuals/IOM/list.asp

A different set of rules applies to hospitals and SNFs. Each insurance will

have their own regulations as well as the State Practice Act.

Hope this helps,

ine

ine M. o, PT

Owner

Encompass Consulting & Education, LLC

8114 NW 100th Terrace, Tamarac, FL 33321-1259

We work hard to make sure you are " getting it right from the start " . Visit

our website at <http://www.encompassmedicare.com/>

www.encompassmedicare.com and see what we can do for you. While there sign

up for our free e-mail Newsletter " Medicare News and Rules for Therapists " .

We specialize in consulting services, seminars and customized education

services to providers of Medicare rehabilitation therapy and related

services.

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From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf

Of mlavcavitt@...

Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 3:56 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: PT Students Treating Medicare Patients

Dear Group,

I read that a PT student cannot treat or bill for Medicare patients unless

the supervising PT is treating along side the student and the PT has no

other patients scheduled during that time slot. Is this correct?

If yes, does this rule apply only to Medicare or to all insurance carriers?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

D. Cavitt, President

Medical Legal Alliance, LLC

600 Guilbeau Road, Suite A

Lafayette, LA 70506

[Guest guest]

,

As long as the managed care contract and the state practice act does not

specifically prohibit it, then a PT student can treat patients just as a tech or

any other unlicensed person could under the PT's supervision.

The restriction you mention applies to Medicare because it is specifically

stated in their contractual agreement.

Jon Mark Pleasant, PT

>

> Dear Group,

>

> I read that a PT student cannot treat or bill for Medicare patients unless

> the supervising PT is treating along side the student and the PT has no

> other patients scheduled during that time slot. Is this correct?

>

> If yes, does this rule apply only to Medicare or to all insurance carriers?

>

> Thank you in advance for your assistance.

>

> D. Cavitt, President

> Medical Legal Alliance, LLC

> 600 Guilbeau Road, Suite A

> Lafayette, LA 70506

>

>

>