RE: Use of RL Category

[Guest guest]

Many of my clients are using the RL classification for those people that in the

past they moved from Part A to Part B- still making very slow progess but need

the skilled therapist along with a good nursing rehab program.

I have some therapists tell me, that if they do not need to see the person 5 x

per week, then it is not skilled therapy.

Gail and Tina- what is your take on that attitude- 5 x per week for skilled

therapy- if less it can not be skilled therapy?

I think this is going to be very critical when the Part B therapy caps are

implemented. They longer we keep them on A the more Part B the patient will have

for later in the year.

theresa Lang, RN

Sr. Health Services Consultant

SMS Consulting

Milwaukee WI and St. MN

Use of RL Category

One of my facilities is pushing toward using the RL category more frequently.

In the " tapering down " on a patient from RU, RV, RH, to RL, my understanding is

that in the RL category, they are to receive at least 45 minutes of direct

therapy in a week? My question is, doesn't the treatment needs to be direct

patient treatment, as in with a therapist, or can it be billed as restorative

training time, or either? Also is not the use of all treatment time upon the

discretion of the therapist and physician? I am concern that influences on how

treatment time should be spent is getting influenced by non-rehab personnel.

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