RE: Outpatient PT - Interns performing tech duties billable?

[Guest guest]

Hi Clay, in Michigan whether we bill for the students work depends on

the insurance providers parameters. For example, Medicare and most of

the federal payers state that the students services are not billable,

while our workers comp will reimburse for student services. We have

scripting we use and special documentation to justify the reimbursement

as well, hope that helps.

Janes DPT/CCE

Troy, Michigan

>>> Clay Jowers 5/12/2011 10:35 AM >>>

OK group:

Have a local university in my town in Texas, desiring to have an

undergraduate perform an intership at my outpatient PT clinic. Question

is: would this intern be able to legally perform tech duties with

private pay insurance pts that would be billable, or would they need to

be a " paid employee " ...i.e. Technician? Also, what sort of

documentation other than HIPPA would I need to have to be covered in

order to have this intern - if applicable.

Thanks for the input.

Clay Jowers, PT, DPT, CSCS, USAW

Human Performance and Rehab

Abilene, TX

>

>

> Sounds like the patient discharged themselves and it would be an

> administrative note to document what happened.

>

>

> PTA DC a patient

>

> Group, we have always had our PT's do a DC on a patient which I think

is

> best

> ractice. However, we are running into occasions where the pt doesn't

show

> for 3

> isits and does not return phone calls, etc. If they don't show on the

PTA

> for

> he 3rd visit, etc, can the PTA write a DC note to state reason for

DC, etc.

>

> here is not assessment or objective information needed, the pt just

> isappeared. I am unaware of any regulations on DC protocol and hope

that

> you

> an help provide some clarity. Thanks in advance.

>

> odd Mourning, PT, DPT �Manager �Rehabilitation Services �

>

> braham Lincoln Memorial Hospital �200 Stahlhut Drive �Lincoln, IL

62656 �

> : �7: �Direct �*:

> mourning.todd@... <mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com>

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>

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[Guest guest]

Hi Clay,

I agree with the other post that this is a non-issue with Medicare clients as no

aide treatment is billable. Many other insurances may have this clause so you

would have to find out for every insurance what their policy was. Second, you

would have to get a ruling form your legal counsel and liability insurance

carrier as to whether your blanket policy covers this situation. I cannot see

that it would because my understanding is that such policies only cover

employees but I am not a lawyer so please check with legal counsel and the

insurance themselves. Without liability insurance covering treatment, I would

not recommend having that student do any treatment activity. Obviously, you

have to follow state law as well which defines who can do treatment. I am not

familiar with Texas statute so please be sure by law first. Finally, as far as

HIPAA: anyone working in a setting which is covered by HIPAA regulation and who

may have access to protected health information needs to go through documented

HIPAA training including volunteer interns, shadowing or whatever you call it

for those getting in their required hours in a PT clinic in order to apply for

PT or PTA programs.

M. Howell, P.T., M.P.T.

Howell Physical Therapy

Eagle, Idaho

thowell@...

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From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of

Clay Jowers

Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 8:35 AM

To: PTManager

Subject: Outpatient PT - Interns performing tech duties billable?

OK group:

Have a local university in my town in Texas, desiring to have an undergraduate

perform an intership at my outpatient PT clinic. Question is: would this

intern be able to legally perform tech duties with private pay insurance pts

that would be billable, or would they need to be a " paid employee " ...i.e.

Technician? Also, what sort of documentation other than HIPPA would I need to

have to be covered in order to have this intern - if applicable.

Thanks for the input.

Clay Jowers, PT, DPT, CSCS, USAW

Human Performance and Rehab

Abilene, TX

>

>

> Sounds like the patient discharged themselves and it would be an

> administrative note to document what happened.

>

>

> PTA DC a patient

>

> Group, we have always had our PT's do a DC on a patient which I think is

> best

> ractice. However, we are running into occasions where the pt doesn't show

> for 3

> isits and does not return phone calls, etc. If they don't show on the PTA

> for

> he 3rd visit, etc, can the PTA write a DC note to state reason for DC, etc.

>

> here is not assessment or objective information needed, the pt just

> isappeared. I am unaware of any regulations on DC protocol and hope that

> you

> an help provide some clarity. Thanks in advance.

>

> odd Mourning, PT, DPT �Manager �Rehabilitation Services �

>

> braham Lincoln Memorial Hospital �200 Stahlhut Drive �Lincoln, IL 62656

�

> : �7: �Direct �*:

> mourning.todd@... <mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com>

<mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com> <mailto:mourning.todd@...

<mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com> <mailto:mourning.todd%40mhsil.com> >

>

> ________________________________

> his message (including any attachments) contains confidential information

> ntended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If

> you

> re not the intended recipient, you should delete this message. Any

> disclosure,

> opying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based

> on

> t, is strictly prohibited.

>

> Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

> ------------------------------------

> In ALL messages to PTManager you must identify yourself, your discipline

> and

> our location or else your message will not be approved to send to the full

> roup.

> Physician Self Referal/Referral for Profit {POPTS} is a serious threat to

> our

> rofessions. PTManager is not available to support POPTS-model practices.

> The

> escription of PTManager group includes the following:

> PTManager believes in and supports Therapist-owned Therapy Practices ONLY "

> essages relating to " how to set up a POPTS " will not be approved

> PTManager encourages participation in your professional association. Join

> APTA,

> OTA or ASHA and participate now!

> Follow Kovacek, PT on Facebook or Twitter.

> TManager blog: http://ptmanager.posterous.com/

> ahoo! Groups Links

> Individual Email | Traditional

>

> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

>

>