IRFs can breathe easier; no change in policy.
CMS has clarified the question of counting minutes of therapy provided by students.
The Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) world reacted in shock to an unexpected statement made during a November Medicare Learning Network call wherein a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) staffer responded to a listener’s question related to counting minutes of therapy provided by a therapy student with guidance that these minutes would not count, regardless of the level of supervision.
Following that call, the therapy professional associations –the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) –- requested a meeting with CMS to address their concerns.
During the meeting on Dec. 11, CMS representatives indicated that there had been no change in policy related to the provision of therapy services – and, more importantly, related to student participation – during 2018. In a follow-up letter to the associations earlier this week, CMS clarified that its current policy does not prohibit therapy services furnished by a therapy student, under the appropriate supervision of a qualified therapist or therapy assistant, from counting toward the intensive rehabilitation therapy program.
As IRFs breathe easier about this issue, it’s important to remember the following:
Program Note:
Angela Phillips will report this story on Monitor Monday, Jan. 14, 10 a.m. ET.
I suspect some readers will consider this article political, but I would assert that it is highly principled in one root thesis: authoritarianism is bad.
As you may recall, last week I critiqued a webinar on the two midnight rule. As you will recall it was not pretty. Today I
Please log in to your account to comment on this article.
Struggling with ICD-10-CM coding for diabetes and complications? This expert-led webcast clarifies complex combination codes, documentation gaps, and sequencing rules to reduce denials and ensure compliance. Dr. Angela Comfort will provide actionable strategies to accurately link diabetes to complications, improve provider documentation, and optimize reimbursement—helping coders, CDI specialists, and HIM leaders minimize audit risks and strengthen revenue integrity. Don’t miss this chance to master diabetes coding with real-world case studies, key takeaways, and live Q&A!
Uncover critical guidance. Kay Piper provides an interactive review on coding guidelines and more in the AHA’s fourth quarter 2025 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Uncover critical guidance. Kay Piper provides an interactive review on coding guidelines and more in the AHA’s third quarter 2025 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Uncover critical guidance. Kay Piper provides an interactive review on coding guidelines and more in the AHA’s second quarter 2025 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Struggling with CMS’s 3-Day Payment Window? Join compliance expert Michael G. Calahan, PA, MBA, CCO, to master billing restrictions for pre-admission and inter-facility services. Learn how to avoid audit risks, optimize revenue cycle workflows, and ensure compliance across departments. Critical for C-suite leaders, providers, coders, revenue cycle teams, and compliance teams—this webcast delivers actionable strategies to protect reimbursements and meet federal regulations.
Providers face increasing Medicare audits when using skin substitute grafts, leaving many unprepared for claim denials and financial liabilities. Join veteran healthcare attorney Andrew B. Wachler, Esq., in this essential webcast and master the Medicare audit process, learn best practices for compliant billing and documentation, and mitigate fraud and abuse risks. With actionable insights and a live Q&A session, you’ll gain the tools to defend your practice and ensure compliance in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Dr. Ronald Hirsch dives into the basics of Medicare for clinicians to be successful as utilization review professionals. He’ll break down what Medicare does and doesn’t pay for, what services it provides and how hospitals get paid for providing those services – including both inpatient and outpatient. Learn how claims are prepared and how much patients must pay for their care. By attending our webcast, you will gain a new understanding of these issues and be better equipped to talk to patients, to their medical staff, and to their administrative team.
Hospitals face growing challenges in measuring observation metrics due to inconsistencies in classification, payer policies, and benchmarking practices. Join Tiffany Ferguson, LMSW, CMAC, ACM, and Anuja Mohla, DO, FACP, MBA, ACPA-C, CHCQM-PHYADV as they provide critical insights into refining observation metrics. This webcast will address key issues affecting observation data integrity and offer strategies for improving consistency in reporting. You will learn how to define meaningful metrics, clarify commonly misinterpreted terms, and apply best practices for benchmarking, and gain actionable strategies to enhance observation data reliability, mitigate financial risk, and drive better decision-making.
Copyright © 2025 RACmonitor. Powered by MedLearn Media.
Happy National Doctor’s Day! Learn how to get a complimentary webcast on ‘Decoding Social Admissions’ as a token of our heartfelt appreciation! Click here to learn more →
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24
