There are some limitations on physical therapy billing. It can be unclear at times exactly which services you can and can’t charge patients for. Here are four things a physical therapist can’t bill for:
1. Supervision
Physical therapists cannot bill for the time they spend supervising other healthcare professionals. Medicare, the largest payer for physical therapy services in the United States, does not allow it.
Supervision refers to the time a licensed physical therapist spends overseeing and guiding the work of another healthcare provider, such as a physical therapist assistant or a student physical therapist. Instead, the time spent providing supervision is typically factored into the billing for the services provided by the supervised provider.
2. Unskilled Prep Time
Physical therapy billing does not account for unskilled prep time. Unqualified prep time may include setting up equipment, reviewing patient files, and coordinating with other healthcare professionals involved in a patient’s care.
While these tasks are necessary for providing high-quality care, physical therapists are not able to bill for this time. They may find ways to streamline their prep time, such as delegating tasks to support staff or developing efficient workflows. At pittmanbilling1.bwpsites.com, we provide an extensive list of the standard codes physical therapists use to determine whether or not you can charge for the service.
3. Co-treatments
Medicare co-treatments are another service physical therapists can’t bill for. Co-treatments may involve multiple healthcare professionals working with the same patient at the same time. This differs from a therapist working with an assistant or aide who is not licensed to provide therapy services independently.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), only one licensed therapist can bill for services provided during a given period. If two physical therapists work with a patient at the same time, only one of them can bill for the services provided during that time. The other therapist would need to bill for their services separately.
4. Services Provided Without Proper Documentation
Documentation is a critical aspect of physical therapy practice. Physical therapists must document all patient services, including evaluations, treatments, progress notes, and discharge summaries. If a physical therapist bills for services provided without proper documentation, the claim may not be allowed, and the therapist may be subject to penalties or fines.
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