Comments for Encompass Medicare

Comment on OIG Warns CMS About Changes In SNF Billing In FY2011 by Vince

Vince — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:14:45 +0000

CMS clearly doesn’t understand economics. Had they simply cut reimbursement rates by the 11% they had originally wanted we wouldn’t be in this ongoing mess. (Of course the last time there was talk of cutting Medicare spending, some were accused of wanting to feed dog food to seniors. At that time the suggestion was to cut just the rate of increase in budgeted spending, making it not a real spending cut at all.) If the new CMS director possesses any intellect or dignity the 2010 and 2011 changes would be eliminated allowing therapists to use their clinical skills to improve of the quality of life for seniors.

Comment on Home Health: Surviving Medicare Reform by Pauline

Pauline — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:16:31 +0000

Hi Jeff, we have posted the dates on the website. We should be posting the agenda in the next day or so.

Comment on Anatomy of Documentation by Pauline

Pauline — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:34:17 +0000

Hi Megan, We are starting in Tampa, FL and are workihng on our other locations and dates. We will post them as soon as we finalize our schedule.

Comment on Mastering Medicare: A Practical Guide To Succeeding Under RUG IV by Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:10:15 +0000

Thsnk you for your great explaination on teh Medicare week. Very happy to have found this site!

Comment on Home Health: Surviving Medicare Reform by Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:27:41 +0000

what is your dates and locations of seminars, specifically Homehealth course for 2012?

Comment on Anatomy of Documentation by Pauline

Pauline — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:22:28 +0000

Hi Lynn,
Thank you for your question. I have answered it as a Medicare Mentor question. THe answer is in a pdf file as I included some table in there. Hope it clears up your confusion.
Pauline

Comment on Anatomy of Documentation by Lynn

Lynn — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:31:09 +0000

What constitutes a SNF Mediare week? I keep getting asked if there is a “Medicare week” for therapy. Some people have said if a patient comes in on Tuesday, and the frequency is 5 x a week I can treat them Tuesday through Friday then start the “Medicare week” and see them any 5 times Sunday through Saturday. I thought that if they come in on Tuesday, I need to see them five times between each Tuesday and the following Monday. What is the right way? Sunday to Monday for everyone, or each patient is different based on the day they were evaulated?
Is this different with Part B and Home Health?

Comment on Anatomy of Documentation by Megan Eorio

Megan Eorio — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:48:17 +0000

Hi..Just wondering if you have set dates or locations for the 2012 seminars? I’m very interested in the Anatomy of Documentation and Tests, Measures, and Questionnaires. Would it be beneficial for our biller to attend as well?
Thank You

Comment on Am I billing correctly for concurrent therapy? by Pauline

Pauline — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:56:46 +0000

Our Mastering Medicare program provides in depth working with the new types of assessments and how to pick appropriate ARDs. Most of the first day is spent on understanding the PPS system and the MDS 3.0.

Comment on I Have Some Part B Questions by Pauline

Pauline — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:37:11 +0000

Medicare requires that you identify the total direct one-on-one time and then allocate the units based on this time. Therefore if your total direct time for the ultra sound was 3 minutes assessment, 8 minutes of treatment for a treatment time of 11 minutes, your total direct time would be 23 plus 11 equals 34, therefore you could only bill 2 units.
When teaching your home program, you bill it to whatever is the type of exercise you are teaching. most of the time it will be under therex – 97110. Your documentation should show that the patient performed return demonstration of the exercise. I personally like to include the level of understanding of the program and the accuracy based on the number of exercises taught.
I hope this helps.