A Comprehensive Guide to Therapy Documentation in Post-Acute Care

The Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act) was enacted by Congress on September 18, 2014, and signed into law by President Obama on October 6, 2014. The IMPACT Act mandates that Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs), Long Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTCHs), Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), and Home Health Agencies (HHAs) report standardized patientassessment data. This data is collected through widely used assessment instruments essential for reimbursement in post- acute care settings.

This legislation significantly advanced healthcare quality for millions of Americans by providing consumers and the government with vital information on outcomes and costs. The IMPACT Act standardized assessments for critical care issues across various post-acute care (PAC) providers, fostering a patient-centered approach that eliminates the siloed focus on quality measurement and resource utilization.

As healthcare reimbursement continues to evolve and become more complex, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to remain highly skilled in their ability to document a holistic view of the patient, their plan of care,progress, and outcomes. A comprehensive and accurate document is vital to quality patient care andreimbursement.

This course will educate therapy professionals on the keycomponents of documentation, emphasizing the importanceof using evidence-based tools to justify skilled care and comply with ever-evolving regulatory guidelines.

Additionally, this course will provide a framework to guide clinicians in their documentation practices. It emphasizes not only the delivery of skilled care but also the importance ofinterdisciplinary teamwork focused on the individual needs of the patient.

Target Audience: Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Speech-Language Pathologists

Highlights

• Improve knowledge of defensible documentation best practices that support the Post-Acute Care Assessment Tools (i.e. MDS, IRF-PAI, OASIS & LCS).
• Use objective measurements and outcomes to document improvements in mobility, activities of daily living, communication and swallowing skills as appropriate, providing evidence of therapy effectiveness.