Guest guest Posted May 21, 2010 Report Share Posted May 21, 2010 For those of you that offer/include this in your services I am looking for the impact the use of VitalStim has had on patient care and patient volume/referral. We are looking at adding this to our services, but need some more information. Thanks for the help. Gwilliam, PT Director of Rehabilitation Bowie Memorial Hospital Bowie Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 I am wondering what codes are billed by the Therapist for the application / treatment.  thanks,  Dawn Van Ruiswyk, MBS Office Manager - Rehab Alliance, LLC  ________________________________ To: PTManager Sent: Fri, May 21, 2010 10:52:06 AM Subject: VitalStim  For those of you that offer/include this in your services I am looking for the impact the use of VitalStim has had on patient care and patient volume/referral. We are looking at adding this to our services, but need some more information. Thanks for the help. Gwilliam, PT Director of Rehabilitation Bowie Memorial Hospital Bowie Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 VitalStim is not knowingly reimbursed under the Medicare program and most third party payers due to lack of efficacy and it is considered investigational. The use of VitalStim in conjunction with other reasonable and necessary interventions to address swallowing and feeding dysfunctions is included under CPT code 92526. Rick Gawenda, PTPresident/CEOGawenda Seminars & Consultingwww.gawendaseminars.com Subject: Re: VitalStim To: PTManager Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 11:09 AM  I am wondering what codes are billed by the Therapist for the application / treatment.  thanks,  Dawn Van Ruiswyk, MBS Office Manager - Rehab Alliance, LLC  ________________________________ To: PTManager Sent: Fri, May 21, 2010 10:52:06 AM Subject: VitalStim  For those of you that offer/include this in your services I am looking for the impact the use of VitalStim has had on patient care and patient volume/referral. We are looking at adding this to our services, but need some more information. Thanks for the help. Gwilliam, PT Director of Rehabilitation Bowie Memorial Hospital Bowie Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Vital stim is just part of the swallow treatment. There is no separate charge for it. Pam Pamela J. Harbert, LPTA Therapy Supervisor Henry County Health & Rehabilitation 212 Dothan Road Abbeville, AL 36310 pharbert@... ext 2029 Fax " Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude. " _____ From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of Dawn Vr Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 10:09 AM To: PTManager Subject: Re: VitalStim I am wondering what codes are billed by the Therapist for the application / treatment. thanks, Dawn Van Ruiswyk, MBS Office Manager - Rehab Alliance, LLC ________________________________ From: j.gwilliam <johng@... <mailto:johng%40bowiememorial.com> > To: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> Sent: Fri, May 21, 2010 10:52:06 AM Subject: VitalStim For those of you that offer/include this in your services I am looking for the impact the use of VitalStim has had on patient care and patient volume/referral. We are looking at adding this to our services, but need some more information. Thanks for the help. Gwilliam, PT Director of Rehabilitation Bowie Memorial Hospital Bowie Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 I looked into this with ASHA several months ago, and they informed me that it would be correct to bill 92526 if using vital stim to treat swallow dysfunction. I did discuss with them that Medicare considered the treatment investigational. They advised that I should not bill G0283 along with 92526 since, in their opinion, the reimbursement under 92526 would include any treatment choices that the therapist in completing. Not sure if this is correct, but this is how we have been billing it since their recommendation. Ken Turley, MPT, NCS Outpatient Therapy Manager Marlton Rehabilitation Hospital Marlton, NJ 08053 From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of Rick Gawenda Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 7:55 AM To: PTManager Subject: RE: VitalStim The billing of the electrodes for VitalStim, in my opinion, is not the correct way to go. My opinion is you should have the patient sign an ABN for the VitalStim and bill for the VitalStim under G0283 (Unattended e-stim for other than wound care) with modifier GA added to that code on the claim form. The GA modifier lets your Medicare contractor know you expect them to deny the service and you have had the patient sign an ABN. Once denied by your Medicare contractor, the patient is legally responsible for your charges. Rick Gawenda, PT President/CEO Gawenda Seminars & Consulting www.gawendaseminars.com From: Dawn Vr <rehab.alliance@...<mailto:rehab.alliance%40yahoo.com> <mailto:rehab.alliance%40yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: VitalStim To: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 11:09 AM I am wondering what codes are billed by the Therapist for the application / treatment. thanks, Dawn Van Ruiswyk, MBS Office Manager - Rehab Alliance, LLC ________________________________ From: j.gwilliam <johng@...<mailto:johng%40bowiememorial.com> <mailto:johng%40bowiememorial.com> > To: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> Sent: Fri, May 21, 2010 10:52:06 AM Subject: VitalStim For those of you that offer/include this in your services I am looking for the impact the use of VitalStim has had on patient care and patient volume/referral. We are looking at adding this to our services, but need some more information. Thanks for the help. Gwilliam, PT Director of Rehabilitation Bowie Memorial Hospital Bowie Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 I looked into this with ASHA several months ago, and they informed me that it would be correct to bill 92526 if using vital stim to treat swallow dysfunction. I did discuss with them that Medicare considered the treatment investigational. They advised that I should not bill G0283 along with 92526 since, in their opinion, the reimbursement under 92526 would include any treatment choices that the therapist in completing. Not sure if this is correct, but this is how we have been billing it since their recommendation. Ken Turley, MPT, NCS Outpatient Therapy Manager Marlton Rehabilitation Hospital Marlton, NJ 08053 From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of Rick Gawenda Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 7:55 AM To: PTManager Subject: RE: VitalStim The billing of the electrodes for VitalStim, in my opinion, is not the correct way to go. My opinion is you should have the patient sign an ABN for the VitalStim and bill for the VitalStim under G0283 (Unattended e-stim for other than wound care) with modifier GA added to that code on the claim form. The GA modifier lets your Medicare contractor know you expect them to deny the service and you have had the patient sign an ABN. Once denied by your Medicare contractor, the patient is legally responsible for your charges. Rick Gawenda, PT President/CEO Gawenda Seminars & Consulting www.gawendaseminars.com From: Dawn Vr <rehab.alliance@...<mailto:rehab.alliance%40yahoo.com> <mailto:rehab.alliance%40yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: VitalStim To: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 11:09 AM I am wondering what codes are billed by the Therapist for the application / treatment. thanks, Dawn Van Ruiswyk, MBS Office Manager - Rehab Alliance, LLC ________________________________ From: j.gwilliam <johng@...<mailto:johng%40bowiememorial.com> <mailto:johng%40bowiememorial.com> > To: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> Sent: Fri, May 21, 2010 10:52:06 AM Subject: VitalStim For those of you that offer/include this in your services I am looking for the impact the use of VitalStim has had on patient care and patient volume/referral. We are looking at adding this to our services, but need some more information. Thanks for the help. Gwilliam, PT Director of Rehabilitation Bowie Memorial Hospital Bowie Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 I looked into this with ASHA several months ago, and they informed me that it would be correct to bill 92526 if using vital stim to treat swallow dysfunction. I did discuss with them that Medicare considered the treatment investigational. They advised that I should not bill G0283 along with 92526 since, in their opinion, the reimbursement under 92526 would include any treatment choices that the therapist in completing. Not sure if this is correct, but this is how we have been billing it since their recommendation. Ken Turley, MPT, NCS Outpatient Therapy Manager Marlton Rehabilitation Hospital Marlton, NJ 08053 From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of Rick Gawenda Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 7:55 AM To: PTManager Subject: RE: VitalStim The billing of the electrodes for VitalStim, in my opinion, is not the correct way to go. My opinion is you should have the patient sign an ABN for the VitalStim and bill for the VitalStim under G0283 (Unattended e-stim for other than wound care) with modifier GA added to that code on the claim form. The GA modifier lets your Medicare contractor know you expect them to deny the service and you have had the patient sign an ABN. Once denied by your Medicare contractor, the patient is legally responsible for your charges. Rick Gawenda, PT President/CEO Gawenda Seminars & Consulting www.gawendaseminars.com From: Dawn Vr <rehab.alliance@...<mailto:rehab.alliance%40yahoo.com> <mailto:rehab.alliance%40yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: VitalStim To: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 11:09 AM I am wondering what codes are billed by the Therapist for the application / treatment. thanks, Dawn Van Ruiswyk, MBS Office Manager - Rehab Alliance, LLC ________________________________ From: j.gwilliam <johng@...<mailto:johng%40bowiememorial.com> <mailto:johng%40bowiememorial.com> > To: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> Sent: Fri, May 21, 2010 10:52:06 AM Subject: VitalStim For those of you that offer/include this in your services I am looking for the impact the use of VitalStim has had on patient care and patient volume/referral. We are looking at adding this to our services, but need some more information. Thanks for the help. Gwilliam, PT Director of Rehabilitation Bowie Memorial Hospital Bowie Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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