McKnight's News is reporting that long-term-care physical therapists working through home health and hospitals are getting larger raises. This is based on data from the Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service. According to McKnight's: Providers should “ be creative in offering incentives for your rehab employees to stay with you beyond the typical raises,” said Rosanne Zabka, director of reports for H&HCS. Options include offering perks such as extra days off, … [Read more...] about Pay Bumps for Physical Therapists
Physician’s duties increasingly reduced by nurses, long-term care providers for chronically ill
According to news reports a shifting role of physicians is expected to accelerate in the coming decades. Healthcare providers work as a team with health specialist usually overseeing various aspects of a patients care including symptoms and medical history, orders for tests and services, prescriptions, etc. At the end of the pre-screening by healthcare providers, a physician is left with the final assessment and the plan—the medical decisions and diagnosis. some doctors are said to be opting … [Read more...] about Physician’s duties increasingly reduced by nurses, long-term care providers for chronically ill
TX Register Updates: Fee Schedules, Supplemental Payments
The following information was obtained from the August 2 issue of the Texas Register. Public Notices HHSC intends to submit an amendment to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance to update the fee schedules for the following existing services: Ambulance; Chemical Dependency Treatment Facilities; Physicians and Other Practitioners; Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment; and Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy provided by Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Fee Schedules, Supplemental Payments
TX Register Updates: Notice Correction, THTQIP Waiver
The following information was obtained from the June 14 issue of the Texas Register. Public Notices and Correction HHSC corrected a notice published in the May 31, 2013, issue in reference to the intent to submit a request to amend the CLASS Medicaid waiver. An excerpt: In addition to the changes previously described in the public notice published in the May 31, 2013, issue of the Texas Register, employment assistance is also being added to the waiver as a service. Changes in the waiver … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Notice Correction, THTQIP Waiver
House and Senate Bills: STAR + PLUS, PPACA
The following recently introduced House and Senate bills could affect long term care providers: HB 1137: Relating to the use of maximum allowable cost lists under a Medicaid managed care pharmacy benefit plan. HB 1112: Relating to state assistance for certain county health care expenditures. HB 1088: Relating to consumer protection provisions applicable to Medicaid managed care contracts. HB 1066: Relating to a review process for managed care organizations participating in the STAR + … [Read more...] about House and Senate Bills: STAR + PLUS, PPACA
Medicare Therapy Cap
The American Physical Therapy Association has announced that Medicare therapy services will be subject to two caps. Physical therapy and speech language pathology will have a combined cap of $1,740 and a separate cap for occupational therapy, all effective on January 1, 2006. Just as Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, doctors, and certain long term care providers have complained about Medicare's reportedly confusing new prescription drug program, physical therapists have issues with the new … [Read more...] about Medicare Therapy Cap
