Greetings! Spring is a time of rene...

Greetings! Spring is a time of renewal and rejuvenation, likewise I thought I'd update the Section in succession Reimbursement and Practice issues, as well as provide a forum for feedback and information from members regarding these issues. If you do have updated information or additional information, or if you want to ask questions regarding these issues, I would like to provide sum of two units options. One, in the time to come I would like you to please proceed to the Section's website (http://home.earthlink.net/~dmadras6/cardiopage/) and leave concerns/ information petition fors on the website, or couple email me (ezhillegass@mindspring.com) as I am developing a list of resources in the practice and reimbursement area. I will then email your questions/concerns to the individuals who have contacted me that they would field questions.

Practice Issues-Awareness:

I think it is important for our membership to be aware of an other groups/organizations that exist. They may be stronger in an areas of the country, or certain areas of practice. The first individual is the American Kinesiotherapy Association (AKTA website: www.AKTA.org). " A Kinesiotherapist is a health care professional who, subordinate to the direction of a physician, treats the efficiencys of disease, injury and congenital disorders, from one side the use of therapeutic exercise and education." generally they are registered through their have organization, however I have heard rumors of trying to obtain licensure. If anyone has information regarding this organization, please contact me

A other organization to be aware of is the ASEP or American Society of Exercise Physiologists. You can obtain information forward this organization at www.asep.org. Their stated purpose:

1 The American Society of Exercise Physiologists is a national nonprofit professional organization committed exclusively to the advancement and improvement of exercise physiology.

2 The Society provides a forum for leadership and exchange of information to stimulate discussion and collaboration among exercise physiologists active in all aspects of the profession.

3 The Society puts the standards for exercise physiologists between the sides of its ASEP approved curricula in Universities and bodys throughout the United States

You might be interested to know the organization has information forward their website regarding certification. about excerpts from their website are:

"Exercise physiologists are discovering they ne certification to restrain pace with other health care professions. The commitment to an ASEP National Certification program for exercise physiologists is a commitment to the exercise physiology profession. onward behalf of the profession, the ASEP National Certification Board is committed to quality certification. Exercise physiologists are, therefore, held accountable to employer consumer and other practitioners from demonstrating that they have met the ASEP standards of accountability and proficiency by way of passing the examination.

Today, there are no ASEP certified exercise physiologists. Years from now, there will be a thousand or more. When certified from ASEP, the only organization of exercise physiologists in the United States, the certified professionals will create a fresh image for exercise physiology. The certification will provide, among other marks of a profession, increased quality, protection for the consumer more and better paying piece of works higher standards of ethical and professional direction and credible service."

I am providing the above information for your knowledge, as there are many disposes that are trying to identify their niche and sometimes they impact the physical therapy profession, and more specifically the cardiopulmonary area of physical therapy.

Reimbursement Issues:

Pulmonary Rehab reimbursement: I have received numerous questions regarding pulmonary rehab reimbursement. Unfortunately this is not easy to address nationally, unless rather it differs state through state. Some states have LMRP (local Medicare review policy) in existence, either in draft form or actually accepted. You must contact your Medicare office in your state for determining specific information regarding pulmonary reimbursement. a certain states have a liberal policy that allows a certain number of visits for pulmonary rehab (some are allowing 2 month or 2x/week for 2 month coverage), and about have a very restricted coverage (some have a maximum of 6 visits allowed). Please read your LMRP carefully.

The pulmonary rehab G collection of lawss (G0237, G0238, G0239) went into import 4/1 which allows for Respiratory Therapy to bill for pulmonary rehab services. If an LMRP already exists, the G collection of lawss simply permit billing of services provided from RTs. Fiscal intermediaries that do not have pulmonary rehab LMRP cannot renounce payment for those codes simply because there is no LMRP There is no direct correlation between the existence of an LMRP and the ability of a facility to use the G collection of lawss In other words, the G digests can be used by facilities to bill for pulmonary rehab related services whether or not there is an LMRP