Medicaid and the use of techs

[Guest guest]

I was asked today by one of my clinics whether there were any specific rules

on the use of techs/aides with Medicaid patients like there is with Medicare

patients. I am not near as versed on Medicaid rules so my advice was that

it would be advisable to use the same rules for Medicaid as he uses for

Medicare but was wondering if any of you knew if the use of aides is

restricted under Medicaid rules. Under the Arkansas PT Practice Act, an

aide can do anything the physical therapist trains them on and feels

comfortable with them performing.

Thanks for any information you can provide us.

Becky A. Sewell, MRC, CRC

Rehab Net of AR/ArPTA

P.O. Box 202

Conway, AR 72033

ph/fax

[Guest guest]

I do not suggest you apply Medicare rules and regulations to Medicaid or for

that matter, any insurance carrier. Medicaid rules and regulations are state

specific and it's imperative that providers read and understand all payor

policies and follow them for that payor. With that said, most, if not all,

Medicaid programs do not reimburse for services provided by an aide under the

direction of a therapist.

Rick Gawenda, PT

President

Gawenda Seminars & Consulting, Inc.

http://www.gawendaseminars.com

> I was asked today by one of my clinics whether there were any specific rules

> on the use of techs/aides with Medicaid patients like there is with Medicare

> patients. I am not near as versed on Medicaid rules so my advice was that

> it would be advisable to use the same rules for Medicaid as he uses for

> Medicare but was wondering if any of you knew if the use of aides is

> restricted under Medicaid rules. Under the Arkansas PT Practice Act, an

> aide can do anything the physical therapist trains them on and feels

> comfortable with them performing.

>

> Thanks for any information you can provide us.

>

> Becky A. Sewell, MRC, CRC

>

> Rehab Net of AR/ArPTA

>

> P.O. Box 202

>

> Conway, AR 72033

>

> ph/fax

>

>

[Guest guest]

Rick,

You are right about not applying Medicare rules and regulations to insurance

in general though more and more insurance are applying them. I tend to

forget at times that Medicaid is actually a state program and not a federal

one. Thanks for advice. You always provide a voice of reason.

Becky A. Sewell, MRC, CRC

Rehab Net of AR/ArPTA

P.O. Box 202

Conway, AR 72033

ph/fax

_____

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf

Of Rick Gawenda

Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 12:55 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: Re: Medicaid and the use of techs

I do not suggest you apply Medicare rules and regulations to Medicaid or for

that matter, any insurance carrier. Medicaid rules and regulations are state

specific and it's imperative that providers read and understand all payor

policies and follow them for that payor. With that said, most, if not all,

Medicaid programs do not reimburse for services provided by an aide under

the direction of a therapist.

Rick Gawenda, PT

President

Gawenda Seminars & Consulting, Inc.

http://www.gawendaseminars.com

On Sep 27, 2011, at 6:34 AM, " Becky Sewell " <rehabnet@...

<mailto:rehabnet%40alliancecable.net> > wrote:

> I was asked today by one of my clinics whether there were any specific

rules

> on the use of techs/aides with Medicaid patients like there is with

Medicare

> patients. I am not near as versed on Medicaid rules so my advice was that

> it would be advisable to use the same rules for Medicaid as he uses for

> Medicare but was wondering if any of you knew if the use of aides is

> restricted under Medicaid rules. Under the Arkansas PT Practice Act, an

> aide can do anything the physical therapist trains them on and feels

> comfortable with them performing.

>

> Thanks for any information you can provide us.

>

> Becky A. Sewell, MRC, CRC

>

> Rehab Net of AR/ArPTA

>

> P.O. Box 202

>

> Conway, AR 72033

>

> ph/fax

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am not a fan of diminishing our profession by giving aides anything that

smells of skilled therapy regardless of the level of 'training' provided by the

PT.  Just because we can (in certain cases or jurisdictions) doesn't mean we

should.  Laws and insurance carriers can reference a lesser practice as a model

for revised coverage standards.  Protect our profession by insisting that

licensed hands touch our patients when therapy is provided.  We must be

diligent to raise the bar instead of seeking the lowest denominator.

We should educate patients to call and ask their intended therapists " will I see

you the whole time or will you pass me off to an aide? "

Exiting soapbox.  

Alan Petrazzi, MPT, MPMRehab DirectorPittsburgh, PA 

> I was asked today by one of my clinics whether there were any specific

rules

> on the use of techs/aides with Medicaid patients like there is with

Medicare

> patients. I am not near as versed on Medicaid rules so my advice was that

> it would be advisable to use the same rules for Medicaid as he uses for

> Medicare but was wondering if any of you knew if the use of aides is

> restricted under Medicaid rules. Under the Arkansas PT Practice Act, an

> aide can do anything the physical therapist trains them on and feels

> comfortable with them performing.

>

> Thanks for any information you can provide us.

>

> Becky A. Sewell, MRC, CRC

>

> Rehab Net of AR/ArPTA

>

> P.O. Box 202

>

> Conway, AR 72033

>

> ph/fax

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am not a fan of diminishing our profession by giving aides anything that

smells of skilled therapy regardless of the level of 'training' provided by the

PT.  Just because we can (in certain cases or jurisdictions) doesn't mean we

should.  Laws and insurance carriers can reference a lesser practice as a model

for revised coverage standards.  Protect our profession by insisting that

licensed hands touch our patients when therapy is provided.  We must be

diligent to raise the bar instead of seeking the lowest denominator.

We should educate patients to call and ask their intended therapists " will I see

you the whole time or will you pass me off to an aide? "

Exiting soapbox.  

Alan Petrazzi, MPT, MPMRehab DirectorPittsburgh, PA 

> I was asked today by one of my clinics whether there were any specific

rules

> on the use of techs/aides with Medicaid patients like there is with

Medicare

> patients. I am not near as versed on Medicaid rules so my advice was that

> it would be advisable to use the same rules for Medicaid as he uses for

> Medicare but was wondering if any of you knew if the use of aides is

> restricted under Medicaid rules. Under the Arkansas PT Practice Act, an

> aide can do anything the physical therapist trains them on and feels

> comfortable with them performing.

>

> Thanks for any information you can provide us.

>

> Becky A. Sewell, MRC, CRC

>

> Rehab Net of AR/ArPTA

>

> P.O. Box 202

>

> Conway, AR 72033

>

> ph/fax

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am not a fan of diminishing our profession by giving aides anything that

smells of skilled therapy regardless of the level of 'training' provided by the

PT.  Just because we can (in certain cases or jurisdictions) doesn't mean we

should.  Laws and insurance carriers can reference a lesser practice as a model

for revised coverage standards.  Protect our profession by insisting that

licensed hands touch our patients when therapy is provided.  We must be

diligent to raise the bar instead of seeking the lowest denominator.

We should educate patients to call and ask their intended therapists " will I see

you the whole time or will you pass me off to an aide? "

Exiting soapbox.  

Alan Petrazzi, MPT, MPMRehab DirectorPittsburgh, PA 

> I was asked today by one of my clinics whether there were any specific

rules

> on the use of techs/aides with Medicaid patients like there is with

Medicare

> patients. I am not near as versed on Medicaid rules so my advice was that

> it would be advisable to use the same rules for Medicaid as he uses for

> Medicare but was wondering if any of you knew if the use of aides is

> restricted under Medicaid rules. Under the Arkansas PT Practice Act, an

> aide can do anything the physical therapist trains them on and feels

> comfortable with them performing.

>

> Thanks for any information you can provide us.

>

> Becky A. Sewell, MRC, CRC

>

> Rehab Net of AR/ArPTA

>

> P.O. Box 202

>

> Conway, AR 72033

>

> ph/fax

>

>