What is occupational therapy? Everything you need to know.

What is occupational therapy? Everything you need to know.

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Occupational therapists focus on enabling people to do the things they want and need to do in their everyday lives.

In this article, we explain what occupational therapy is, what occupational therapists do, and what to expect during an appointment with one of these professionals.

We also explain the differences between occupational therapy and physical therapy.

Full article at Medical News Today

CEUs for Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Occupational Therapists

CMS Suspends Advanced Payment Program, Will ‘Reevaluate’ Accelerated Payment

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The programs were expanded in late March to provide emergency loans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now they’ll take a backset to the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund grants program.

Citing the availability of new relief money, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has suspended its advance payment program for Medicare part B providers, saying it’s reevaluating its accelerated payment program for Part A providers.

Unlike the money now being disbursed through a $175 billion CARES Act Provider Relief Fund, the programs being curtailed by CMS require recipients to pay back the funds received.

In an April 26 press release, CMS announced it has suspended its Advance Payment Program to Part B providers and will no longer be accepting applications. At the same time, the agency is reevaluating all pending and new applications in the Accelerated Payment Program used mostly by Medicare Part A providers. Since March 28, the combined programs delivered $100 billion in payments. In addition to its press release, CMS published an updated fact sheet on the Accelerated and Advanced Payment Programs.

Full article at APTA

CEUs for Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Occupational Therapists

More Provider Money Is Coming From HHS. Can PTs Qualify?

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is distributing an additional $20 billion in health care provider relief funds, but the way HHS is determining distribution might make getting that money more complicated for many PTs — if PTs qualify in the first place.

HHS announced that beginning April 24, some providers will automatically be sent payment as part of a $100 billion provider relief effort that set aside $50 billion for “general allocation” to providers. Release of that $50 billion began with a $30 billion tranche on April 10.

While the initial $30 billion was based on Medicare fee-for-service reimbursement in 2019, the remaining $20 billion will be distributed according to 2018 net patient revenue based on cost reports submitted to CMS. Medicare-certified institutional providers are required to submit those reports annually.

Full article at APTA

CEUs for Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Occupational Therapists

Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (FPTR) Endorses Initiative to Help Orthopedic Patients

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Among the many challenges faced by those in the physical therapy network is the cancellation of scheduled orthopedic surgeries and physical therapy sessions – a change that is rippling through patient communities. Additionally, physical therapists can provide guidance and encouragement to patients for their continued adherence to exercise programs. For Such a Time as This – OrthoChallenge gives hope to finding novel and effective ways to help patients during the current health crisis.

In light of this urgency, the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (FPTR) has endorsed an initiative to help orthopedic patients awaiting elective surgeries — For Such A Time As This – OrthoChallenge.

“We hope that our endorsement of this project will ultimately help expedite introduction of new products, software, and services that address the needs of orthopedic patients,” said FPTR CEO, Barbara Malm. “We empathize with those who have delayed their elective orthopedic procedures due to the stay at home mandates.”

Full article at foundation4pt.org

CEUs for Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Occupational Therapists

CARES Act Provider Relief: Sorting Out the Details

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HHS continues to shed light on how providers can know if they’re receiving money as it eases concerns about who qualifies.

The $30 billion in COVID-19 funds being sent directly to health care providers has sparked questions among providers about whether they qualify for the funds, how they’ll receive them, and what kinds of restrictions might apply.

Fortunately, there are answers out there. In addition to its initial story on release of the funds, PT in Motion News published a subsequent piece on how to find out if you’re receiving any of the money. Here’s more of what we know about the program.

You don’t have to be “currently taking patients” as long as you were still seeing patients after January 31 — and HHS is taking a broad view of patients with “possible” COVID-19.
The basic requirement for the funds, according to HHS, is that you billed Medicare in 2019 and provided “diagnoses, testing, or care for individuals with possible or actual cases of COVID-19.” As far as HHS is concerned, that includes everyone you treated: “HHS broadly views every patient as a possible case of COVID-19,” HHS states.

Full article at APTA

CEUs for Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Occupational Therapists

UV experts publish therapeutic exercise programs for people with physical ailments

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Experts from the Faculty of Physical Therapy of Valencia University (UV) are warning that the physical exercise programs that have flooded the internet since the confinement due to the COVID-19 crisis can worsen the symptoms of people with physical ailments and lead to catastrophisation and pain chronification.

The worldwide coronavirus pandemic has caused the confinement of the Spanish population in order to stop the virus from spreading. This has led a large part of the population to carry out physical exercise at home.

However, as they warn from the UV’s Faculty of Physical Therapy, people with pain or who are recovering from a physical ailment or injury have to be careful with the exercises they conduct.

Full article at News Medical

CEUs for Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Occupational Therapists

Virtual therapy: What is it?

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Virtual therapy is therapy that takes place via the phone, an app, a video chat, or even a virtual reality device.

These virtual therapy options allow people to seek treatment in the comfort of their own home, without having to travel to see a therapist in person.

There are different types of virtual therapy, each of which has various benefits and limitations. Keep reading to find out more.

What is it? 

Virtual therapy is a type of telemedicine. It includes any treatment that a person seeks through an electronic device.

Full article at Medical News Today

CEUs for Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Occupational Therapists

Are You Getting CARES Act Provider Relief? How to Find Out (and What You’ll Need to Do After You Receive It)

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The $30 billion emergency fund created under the most recent COVID-19 relief package began being distributed to health care providers on April 10, but not all eligible providers have received funds yet. Those who do receive money need to agree to the program’s terms and conditions.

Here’s what you need to know.

If you’re wondering whether you’ll receive a payment based on your 2019 Medicare fee-for-service reimbursements total: CMS partnered with UnitedHealth Group to deliver the stimulus payments. If you haven’t yet received a payment or need to find out if you’re eligible, call UHG’s provider relations department at 866-569-3522.

Tip: If you haven’t set up direct deposit through CMS or UHG’s Optum Pay and you qualify for funds, you’ll receive a paper check at a later date. You can set up direct deposit by calling the UHG number listed above.

For more information, visit APTA

CEUs for Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Occupational Therapists

WHO Survey COVID – Interactive Skills training for Healthcare Workers

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) would like to obtain the input of occupational therapists and other health professionals from around the world regarding the development of digital learning applications required in relation to the COVID 19 outbreak. WHO has designed a short online survey to obtain input.

The survey is anonymous and responses will not be associated with names or email addresses. No identifiable information will be shared or presented in the survey results.

Please note that WHO uses the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to categorise health professions in this survey. Within ISCO, occupational therapists are not uniquely categorised, instead included under ‘other health professions. WFOT is actively working with ILO to change the categorisation of occupational therapists in future versions to ISCO to ensure more accurate representation and reporting regarding the profession. For the purposes of this survey, however, occupational therapists are requested to list and specify their profession under the ‘other’ category.

Full article at WFOT

CEUs for Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Occupational Therapists

Check With Your TRICARE Contractor About PTA Services and Billing

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Technically, it’s true: beginning with date of service on April 16, physical therapist assistants and occupational therapy assistants will be included as authorized providers under TRICARE, the health insurance system used throughout the military — and thus eligible for reimbursement for covered services rendered to TRICARE beneficiaries. The TRICARE website even says as much.

But according to Kara Gainer, APTA’s director of regulatory affairs, before you begin submitting claims for covered services provided by PTAs to TRICARE beneficiaries, you may want to first check with your TRICARE contractor.

“We’re telling providers that, yes, the change has occurred and that PTAs are eligible for reimbursement for services rendered beginning on April 16, 2020. However, contractors may not yet have made the necessary systems changes,” Gainer said. “It’s important that providers find out whether their contractors are ready to process the claims and if any new coding requirements are being applied to this change.”

Full article at APTA

CEUs for Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Occupational Therapists