The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided updated guidance regarding the use of a physician referral as the initial certification. To access this updated guidance, click

There is confusion as to whether or not a physician order can serve as the initial plan of care for an original Medicare beneficiary receiving outpatient therapy. In this article, I will answer the following questions:

One of the most common questions I am asked via email and in-person during a seminar is “When does an order for therapy expire” or “How old can an order be before a patient starts therapy”? To answer this question, we must look in 3 places. The first is your