RE: Re: Short Term Goals (STG's)

[Guest guest]

Before dismissing the issue of short-term goals altogether, you might want to

read carefully your discipline-specific LCD from your Medicare Administrative

Contractor (MAC). Many of these LCDs do include the requirement for " short and

long term goals stated in objective measurable terms, and their expected date of

accomplishment " . Some MACs are now denying coverage (via ADR review) based on

not meeting this requirement.

[cid:image001.jpg@...]

Jean-Michel Geoffriau, PT | Director of Rehabilitation | Sta-Home Health &

Hospice | JGEOFFRIAU@...

406 Briarwood Drive, Bldg. 200 | , MS 39206 | Office: | Fax:

| Mobile:

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of

Jerry

Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012 2:46 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: Re: Short Term Goals (STG's)

Hi Ron

Great point. Terminology here is all over the map and there is a lot of

confusion about this. My two cents:

* You're right, there is no requirement for both short term and long term goals

to be included in your Plan of Care, only long term goals.

* But, there is a requirement in the documentation requirements section of the

Medicare Benefits Policy Manual that " Documentation should establish through

objective measurements (my emphasis) that the patient is making progress toward

goals. (I think one can assume that CMS is referring to long term goals here.)

So, it would seem to be ideal if there is an explicit linkage of your important

clinical findings with progression toward long term goals. These clinical

measurements may be " classic " clinical tests like ROM and strength or other

reproducible tests of patient's function.

I think it makes all of this easier if we think of the terms " short term goals "

and " long term goals " as " Clinical Goals " and " Functional Goals " . These terms

just add to the confusion.

Jerry , PT

VP, Clinical Community | Clinicient, Inc.

1515 SW Fifth Street, Suite 950 | Portland, OR 97205

Direct Line: x.115 | Cell: | Fax:

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