For original Medicare, can a physician or nonphysician practitioner order serve as the initial plan of care? Must the recertification occur on a date where the Medicare beneficiary was seen for a visit? Must the physician who ordered the outpatient therapy be the same physician to certify and/or recertify the plan of care? Must a Medicare beneficiary have a face-to-face visit with their physician before beginning outpatient therapy services? What would be some examples of an insignificant change that would not require the therapist to do an updated plan of care? What would be an example of a significant change that would require the therapist to do an updated plan of care? What are optional items that I can include in a plan of care for a Medicare beneficiary receiving outpatient therapy services? What are the required elements for a plan of care for a Medicare beneficiary receiving outpatient therapy services? Does the Medicare program require a physician order for outpatient therapy services to be paid? How long is a certification and recertification valid for under Medicare Part B outpatient therapy services? If I evaluate and treat a Medicare beneficiary in the emergency department or while under observation status and they do not get admitted to the hospital (i.e. they get discharged home), must I have the plan of care signed and dated by the physician? How soon must a plan of care be signed by a physician or NPP to be considered timely under Medicare Part B rules and regulations? Who can sign a plan of care certifying and recertifying for outpatient therapy services under the Medicare program? What is delayed certification and recertification? What are some possible justifications to support delayed certification or recertification? If I only do an evaluation on a Medicare beneficiary under Part B and discharge them as they do not required continued therapy, must I have the plan of care signed and dated by the physician/non-physician practitioner?

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