I got this from the acute PT section. I wanted to pass it on to all of you.
Renee

The following release was published concerning physical therapy
practice:

VICTORY FOR THERAPY STUDENTS: 
HCFA Decides to Count Student Minutes on SNFs

Due to the actions of the American Physical Therapy Association,
American Occupational Therapy Association, and American Speech Language
and Hearing Association, HCFA has decided to allow skilled nursing
facilities to count minutes of therapy provided by therapy students in
skilled nursing facilities.  The Trialliance (APTA, AOTA, and ASHA) met
with HCFA officials on September 7 and strongly urged them to change the
SNF PPS regulations to include rehabilitation minutes provided by
students on the MDS.

As a result of this meeting, HCFA placed a correction notice on public
inspection (November 3, 1999) that addresses student services furnished
in skilled nursing facilities.  The document corrects a technical error
that appeared in the final rule published in the Federal Register on
July 30, 1999 entitled, "Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System
and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities."  This
technical error relates to the counting of minutes of therapy provided
by a therapy student on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) resident assessment
instrument.  
 
Specifically, HCFA retracts its statement in the July 30 final rule
that the minutes of therapy provided by a therapy student are not to be
recorded on the MDS as minutes of therapy received by the beneficiary. 
In the correction notice, HCFA states that "providers should record the
minutes of therapy provided by therapy students in accordance with the
past practice established under the instructions in the Long Term Care
Resident Assessment Instrument User's Manual and other HCFA guidelines. 


With this correction, the preamble language in the rule reads as
follows:

"A therapy student who is participating in field experience must also
be under the line-of-sight" level of supervision of the professional
therapist.  Even though these students may become licensed therapists
within months of the field training portion of their school program,
they are not licensed or certified for practice in an unsupervised
status.  Further, none of the minutes of therapy services provided by
the students may be recorded on the MDS as minutes of therapy received
by the beneficiary.

HCFA also clarifies that the "pass-through" provision referenced in the
July regulations does not apply to therapy student field experience in
skilled nursing facilities. This correction is effective September 28,
1999.  

HCFA did not make any changes to its policy on supervision of therapy
students.  However, HCFA has expressed a willingness to examine this
issue in the near future.


#2  This was sent earlier but many did not receive this e-mail.  Thank
you for your patience and understanding.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           Contact: Jennifer Hunt
                                                                        
   703/706-3216

                                                                        
    09/970

APTA APPLAUDS CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO LIFT $1,500 THERAPY CAP


        ALEXANDRIA, VA, November 9, 1999 - House and Senate negotiators
agreed today to lift the $1,500 cap on physical therapy and other
rehabilitation under Medicare.
"This crucial step that Congress took today will mean that Medicare
patients will be able to take their own steps toward full recovery,"
said APTA President Jan K. Richardson, PT, PhD, OCS.   "This arbitrary
limit has been detrimental to Medicare beneficiaries who need adequate
physical therapy services to return to functional living.  APTA applauds
Congress for taking this action to undo the unintended consequences of
the Balanced Budget Act."
APTA is disappointed, however, that the cap cannot be lifted
immediately because it is tied to a provision that requires
implementation of consolidated billing by nursing homes.  According to
HCFA consolidated billing cannot be accomplished until Y2K problems have
been solved.

"As long as the arbitrary cap remains in place, Medicare beneficiaries
are being harmed," said Richardson.  APTA urges the Health Care
Financing Administration to implement the moratorium on the $1,500 cap
as soon as possible.
        The American Physical Therapy Association is a national
professional organization representing more than 70,000 members.  Its
goal is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research,
and education.



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