Documentation, Billing & Coding

Understanding Locum Tenens in Physical Therapy Private Practice Clinics

The term locum tenens comes from Latin, meaning “to hold the place of.” In healthcare, it refers to temporary healthcare providers who fill the role of a regular provider who is unavailable for a short period. For Medicare beneficiaries, the locum tenens program offers a crucial solution. It allows a Medicare-enrolled regular Physical Therapist (PT) to use a substitute PT to provide treatment when the regular PT is temporarily unavailable under section 16006 of the…

Updated Telehealth Information for Physical Therapists (PTs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), and Speech-language Pathologists (SLPs)

In late December 2024, the American Relief Act, 2025 became law to help continue telehealth services under Medicare. This Act includes a Continuing Resolution that keeps important federal programs and funding going until March 31, 2025. One key feature is a short-term extension of telehealth waivers that started during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). These waivers were set to end on December 31, 2024, but they will now be extended for another three months.…

Medicare Part B Therapy Services Changes for Fiscal Year 2025: Part 2

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the Final Rule for the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), or Medicare Part B Rule, which will take effect on January 1, 2025. This comprehensive blog series outlines significant changes impacting therapy professionals, including Physical Therapists (PTs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), and Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs). If you missed Part 1, click here! New Rules for Therapy Practice Supervision of Assistants in Private Practice Settings The significant change…