On July 31, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released Transmittal 10241, Change Request (CR) 11762 that updates the 2020 Annual Update to the Therapy Code List. This update deletes CPT codes 90911, 95831, 95832, 95833 and 95834 as well as HCPCS Level II code G0515 and adds CPT codes 90912, 90913, 97129 and 97130. Click HERE to access the annual therapy code list and dispositions.

On July 31, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 final rule titled “Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Value-Based Purchasing Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2021“. Highlights of the final rule include the following: CMS projects that aggregate Medicare program payments to SNFs will increase by $750 million, or 2.2 percent, for FY 2021 compared to FY 2020. Changes to the ICD-10 code mappings, effective October 1, 2020 to classify SNF patients into payment groups. CMS is finalizing

Due to the Public Health Emergency (PHE) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has eased the supervision requirements of a physical therapist assistant (PTA) by a physical therapist (PT) and an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) by an occupational therapist (OT). In this article, I will answer the following questions: Normally, what are the supervision requirements of a PTA by a PT and an OTA by an OT in a private practice setting under traditional Medicare Part B? What are CMS’ current supervision requirements of a PTA by a PT and an

With the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expansion of telehealth services as well as their Hospital Without Walls initiative, many hospitals are confused on the differences between providing outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services remotely versus via telehealth and how to complete the UB-04 claim form. I published an article on June 18, 2020 explaining the differences between the two and how to do the billing for each type of service. Now, CMS has provided additional clarification on providing outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services remotely versus via telehealth and explains how to do the billing

With the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services extending the Public Health Emergency (PHE) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many private practices as well as facilities and organizations want to know what does this mean for the extension of providing outpatient therapy services via telehealth. In this article, I will provide updates on outpatient therapy services delivered via telehealth for the traditional Medicare Part B program and some of the larger national insurance carriers. Medicare (Traditional) Aetna Anthem BCBS of Colorado Anthem BCBS of Connecticut Anthem BCBS of Georgia Anthem BCBS of Indiana Anthem BCBS of Kentucky

Cigna has extended the expiration date for outpatient therapy services delivered via telehealth. The new expiration date is I hope you found this information informative and valuable to your practice or organization. Thank you for being a Gold Member!

UnitedHealthcare has provided updates on outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services delivered via telehealth. Telehealth for Medicare Advantage Telehealth for Individual and Fully Insured Group Market Virtual Check-Ins and E-Visits for Medicare Advantage Virtual Check-Ins for Individual and Fully Insured Group Market E-Visits for Individual and Fully Insured Group Market In addition to all of the above important information, click and read all about outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services delivered via telehealth. I hope you found this article informative. Thank you for being a Gold Member!

The Public Health Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended by Secretary Azar. The new expiration date is I hope you found this information helpful. Thank you for being a Gold Member!