Entry By: Eileen Bach, PT, M.Ed, DPT CMS had posted the most recent version of the OASIS C manual for users. Title is “2011 OASIS C Manual”. Also posted is the file “OASIS C Guidance Manual Errata 12-11″. http://www.cms.gov/HomeHealthQualityInits/14_HHQIOASISUserManual.asp The item by item guidance for OASIS C items that was previously found in Chapter 3 is [...]
Entry By: Eileen Bach, PT, M.Ed, DPT CMS has released the final PPS rules for home health care. Link and brief summary posted here. The 2012 CMS Home Care PPS rules can be found at: www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-28416_PI.pdf. Medicare Program; Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update for Calendar Year 2012 AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid [...]
Entry By: Eileen Bach, PT, M.Ed, DPT Pasted below is from National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) who posted the question and answer from CMS regarding single therapy in terms of 30 days/13th visit re-assessment. This only reinforces the importance of scheduling, know ing how many rehab visits are made and adherence to CMS expectations regarding [...]
Entry By: Eileen Bach, PT, M.Ed, DPT Hello, home care therapists! In the past few days, CMS updated the written questions and answers for therapy. A new 16th question/answer was added regarding 30 day re-assessments. You can access this information by going to http://www.cms.gov/snfpps/03_RUGIVedu12.asp for the Q&A therapy file. You can also find this (and many [...]
Entry By: Eileen Bach, PT, M.Ed, DPT The FDA site noted here has some helpful information. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ The case study for July is pasted below. Best regards, Eileen Bach Case Study of the Month The FDA encourages consumers and health care professionals to report problems they have with their devices while they are using them. [...]
Entry By: Eileen Bach, PT, M.Ed, DPT CMS released the proposed rules – you can see full text at http://federalregister.gov/inspection.aspx A few significant changes are – a 3.35 % decrease in payment, lower payment amounts and changes to case-mix for select diagnoses and the therapy payment structure, OT serving as a qualifying service and flexibility [...]
Entry By: Eileen Bach, PT, M.Ed, DPT Pasted below is a summary from an update from HCA of NY (www.hcanys.org). The timing of the required therapy reassessments (13th and 19th visits, 30 days) is important and based on the CMS response below, when the re-assessments are late, the visits from due date to actual are not only [...]
Entry By: Eileen Bach, PT, M.Ed, DPT Welcome to June! June is the month when the weather pulls us outdoors; when we are attending graduations, weddings, barbecues and concerts and when we celebrate our Dads. There are a few unusual events recognized such as June 3rd ‘Repeat Day”, June 11th “National Hug Day”, June 15th [...]
Entry By: Eric Folmar, MPT, OCS, PT I have to start this entry by first apologizing for not posting for a while. I have been extremely busy soaking up the sun here on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. If you have never been here it is worth the venture. I am actually here in a [...]
Entry By: Eric Folmar, MPT, OCS, PT Just looking for some feedback on the commonly used sleeper stretch for posterior capsular tightness. As I have played with this stretch over the years I find that patients have a tendency to move away from the ideal stretch position. I have begun to have patients actually 1/4 [...]