Guest guest Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Either way, whether you use traditional ionto or the " patch " , you cannot charge separately for the electrodes or patches as it is part of the reimbursement (CMS guidelines) Amit Mehta PT MBA Phone: Fax: Pager: _____ From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of abpt25 Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 3:11 PM To: PTManager Subject: Re: Ionto question You can also try the Ionto Patch. Each patch is about $6. The patient wears the patch for up to 14 hours and then throws it away. You don't have to buy an ionto unit in order to use these patches. They have a small battery in the patch itself. We don't get many referrals for ionto but, when we do, we just order a box of these and treat the patient accordingly. Balan Solex Physical Therapy abalan@... <mailto:abalan%40solexcenters.com> > > I have recently had a couple of clients referred from Podiatrist to P.T. for iontophoresis. I > haven't offered this as a service before but am considering it. 2 questions: > > What do you all do regarding the high cost of the electrodes? Do you have the patient pay > for them out of pocket? > > Secondly, I have searched on the internet for the needless syringe and have had no luck > finding them anywhere. Could someone refer me to a supplier for these? > > Never mind that some insurance companies, such as AETNA, will not cover this service as it is > " experimental " . > > Thank you in advance. > > > VSG PT > 5530 Wisconsin Ave. > Chevy Chase, MD 20815 > ----------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Keep in mind that CPT code 97033 for Iontophoresis is a timed 15 minute code. You must do a substantial portion of that 15 minutes which includes pre-service, intra-service, and post-service work. When providing iontophoresis either via a patch or the " old fashion " way, you may only count the skilled time towards each 15 minutes. The run time of the unit is not billable to any payer as it does not require any skill. The skilled time may include, but is not limited to, patient education, patient assessment, and the skilled time to apply the iontophoresis. With the patch on the third visit or more, how much skilled time is actualy required? Rick Gawenda, PT President, Section on Health Policy & Administration APTA --- abpt25 wrote: > You can also try the Ionto Patch. Each patch is > about $6. The > patient wears the patch for up to 14 hours and then > throws it away. > You don't have to buy an ionto unit in order to use > these patches. > They have a small battery in the patch itself. We > don't get many > referrals for ionto but, when we do, we just order a > box of these and > treat the patient accordingly. > > Balan > Solex Physical Therapy > abalan@... > > > > > > I have recently had a couple of clients referred > from Podiatrist to > P.T. for iontophoresis. I > > haven't offered this as a service before but am > considering it. 2 > questions: > > > > What do you all do regarding the high cost of the > electrodes? Do > you have the patient pay > > for them out of pocket? > > > > Secondly, I have searched on the internet for the > needless syringe > and have had no luck > > finding them anywhere. Could someone refer me to > a supplier for > these? > > > > Never mind that some insurance companies, such as > AETNA, will not > cover this service as it is > > " experimental " . > > > > Thank you in advance. > > > > > > VSG PT > > 5530 Wisconsin Ave. > > Chevy Chase, MD 20815 > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Rick, am I correct in reading the policy released July 1 Source Medicare Part A Policy National Government Services Effective Date 07/01/2008 Publish Date May 2002 States Affected IL IN KY OH Policy Number L26884 Subject Outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy Services That ionto is no longer a covered service? Does this apply just to my FI or all across the board? Thanks. Todd Mourning, PT Manager of Therapy Services Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital 315 8th Street Lincoln, IL 62656 (direct) (fax) mourning.todd@... ________________________________ From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of Rick Gawenda Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 3:33 PM To: PTManager Subject: Re: Re: Ionto question Keep in mind that CPT code 97033 for Iontophoresis is a timed 15 minute code. You must do a substantial portion of that 15 minutes which includes pre-service, intra-service, and post-service work. When providing iontophoresis either via a patch or the " old fashion " way, you may only count the skilled time towards each 15 minutes. The run time of the unit is not billable to any payer as it does not require any skill. The skilled time may include, but is not limited to, patient education, patient assessment, and the skilled time to apply the iontophoresis. With the patch on the third visit or more, how much skilled time is actualy required? Rick Gawenda, PT President, Section on Health Policy & Administration APTA --- abpt25 <abpt25@...<mailto:abpt25%40aol.com>> wrote: > You can also try the Ionto Patch. Each patch is > about $6. The > patient wears the patch for up to 14 hours and then > throws it away. > You don't have to buy an ionto unit in order to use > these patches. > They have a small battery in the patch itself. We > don't get many > referrals for ionto but, when we do, we just order a > box of these and > treat the patient accordingly. > > Balan > Solex Physical Therapy > abalan@...<mailto:abalan%40solexcenters.com> > > > > > > I have recently had a couple of clients referred > from Podiatrist to > P.T. for iontophoresis. I > > haven't offered this as a service before but am > considering it. 2 > questions: > > > > What do you all do regarding the high cost of the > electrodes? Do > you have the patient pay > > for them out of pocket? > > > > Secondly, I have searched on the internet for the > needless syringe > and have had no luck > > finding them anywhere. Could someone refer me to > a supplier for > these? > > > > Never mind that some insurance companies, such as > AETNA, will not > cover this service as it is > > " experimental " . > > > > Thank you in advance. > > > > > > VSG PT > > 5530 Wisconsin Ave. > > Chevy Chase, MD 20815 > > > > > __________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ This message (including any attachments) contains confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message. Any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2008 Report Share Posted July 11, 2008 This is not a national coverage policy. This only applies if National Government Services is your Medicare contractor. Rick Gawenda, PT President Section on Health Policy & Administration APTA On Jul 9, 2008, at 1:14 PM, " Mourning, Todd " wrote: > Rick, am I correct in reading the policy released July 1 > Source > > Medicare Part A Policy National Government Services > > Effective Date > > 07/01/2008 > > Publish Date > > May 2002 > > States Affected > > IL IN KY OH > > Policy Number > > L26884 > > Subject > > Outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy Services > > That ionto is no longer a covered service? > > Does this apply just to my FI or all across the board? > > Thanks. > > Todd Mourning, PT > Manager of Therapy Services > Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital > 315 8th Street > Lincoln, IL 62656 > > > (direct) > (fax) > > mourning.todd@... > ________________________________ > From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] > On Behalf Of Rick Gawenda > Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 3:33 PM > To: PTManager > Subject: Re: Re: Ionto question > > Keep in mind that CPT code 97033 for Iontophoresis is > a timed 15 minute code. You must do a substantial > portion of that 15 minutes which includes pre-service, > intra-service, and post-service work. When providing > iontophoresis either via a patch or the " old fashion " > way, you may only count the skilled time towards each > 15 minutes. The run time of the unit is not billable > to any payer as it does not require any skill. > > The skilled time may include, but is not limited to, > patient education, patient assessment, and the skilled > time to apply the iontophoresis. With the patch on the > third visit or more, how much skilled time is actualy > required? > > Rick Gawenda, PT > President, Section on Health Policy & Administration > APTA > > --- abpt25 <abpt25@...<mailto:abpt25%40aol.com>> wrote: > > > You can also try the Ionto Patch. Each patch is > > about $6. The > > patient wears the patch for up to 14 hours and then > > throws it away. > > You don't have to buy an ionto unit in order to use > > these patches. > > They have a small battery in the patch itself. We > > don't get many > > referrals for ionto but, when we do, we just order a > > box of these and > > treat the patient accordingly. > > > > Balan > > Solex Physical Therapy > > abalan@...<mailto:abalan%40solexcenters.com> > > > > > > > > > > I have recently had a couple of clients referred > > from Podiatrist to > > P.T. for iontophoresis. I > > > haven't offered this as a service before but am > > considering it. 2 > > questions: > > > > > > What do you all do regarding the high cost of the > > electrodes? Do > > you have the patient pay > > > for them out of pocket? > > > > > > Secondly, I have searched on the internet for the > > needless syringe > > and have had no luck > > > finding them anywhere. Could someone refer me to > > a supplier for > > these? > > > > > > Never mind that some insurance companies, such as > > AETNA, will not > > cover this service as it is > > > " experimental " . > > > > > > Thank you in advance. > > > > > > > > > VSG PT > > > 5530 Wisconsin Ave. > > > Chevy Chase, MD 20815 > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > This message (including any attachments) contains confidential > information intended for a > specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are > not the intended recipient, > you should delete this message. Any disclosure, copying, or > distribution of this message, or the > taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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