Hello Tia: I'm going to try to answer some of your questions as best I can. You will want to check/verify all responses with your local Medicare intermediary:
1. 97003 is NOT a timed charge. Whether it's 15 minutes or 55 minutes, the charge is the same. For FTE purposes, you may want to include the length of time needed to complete the evals. 2. Some codes can be done the same day as an eval, other codes can NOT be done unless a modifier is used, indicating that the two or more codes are separate charges. This is part of what's called the National Correct Coding Initiative. More information can be found here: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/physicians/cciedits/ 3. The documentation time is not billable. If it takes 1 hour to do an assessment and 1 hour to write the report, only 1 hour is billable. 4. Documentation time is not billable. Because much of what therapist's do is NOT billable, (e.g. documentation, chart reviews, screens, phone calls to insurance companies, etc) using billable units as a way to track time utilization may not be the most accurate reporting method. Are you trying to just capture codes or to follow Medicare billing guidelines? Ron ===========> Original Message Follows .... On4/26/2005, [EMAIL PROTECTED], <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > Hi everyone, > I have been working inpatient at a VA hospital for several years and have > not had to worry about billing and CPT codes until recently. We are now > having to capture these procedures to justify our time, and the need for > more FTEs, so we need to maximize the number of procedures we report, but > obviously want to keep it legal and ethical. > I would appreciate any info from those in the private sector or other VAs on > the following questions. > 1. Must we use only 97003 OT Evaluation for the initial OT visit whether > it's a full or modified eval and takes 15 mins. or an hour or more? Problem > is, we have a lot of 1x visits and it shows up on our stats as 1 unit of 15 > mins. > 2. If we do above said eval, and in the context of that eval, do w/c or ADL > training, or some other therapeutic procedure, can we add the codes for > those, too, or does it have to be done on a different day? > 3. 97750 Physical performance test or measurement and 96115 Neurobehavioral > status exam count for 15 mins and per hour, respectively, with > interpretation and written report. Does that mean, for example, an FCWE > that takes 6 hrs. with the client, and 2hrs. to write the report, would > count as 32 units? > 4. Does anyone use the 99199 code to count for documentation time? > 5. What is your average time per pt. for an evaluation or treatment, chart > review, documentation, ordering w/c & home equipment, etc.? > 6. What is the required level of productivity at your facility or in your > work setting? > And, how much time are you allowed for tx. team meetings, staff meetings, > training, in-services, pt./caregiver calls, scheduling, and miscellaneous > office tasks? > Thanks in advance, > Tia Healy > WG Hefner VAMC > Salisbury, NC -- Unsubscribe? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com Help? [EMAIL PROTECTED]
