Significant Changes in Regard to Rehab

[Julie Schwarzenegger]

I am the operations manager for a contract therapy company in NC so this questions may seem trivial to you -- I apologize for that.   Here's the scenario:  A patient is discharged from therapy but remains skilled by nursing.  Several weeks later, when the patient is between assessments, he/she becomes appropriate for rehab services as a result of a weight bearing status change, for example.  Is there any way to achieve a rehab RUG by completing a significant change?   We encounter this problem frequently in our nursing homes and end up treating the patient for up to two weeks under a nursing RUG.  It seems like Medicare should allow the facility to capture a rehab RUG but our MDS coordinators often say that a patient's weight bearing status change or increased ability to participate in therapy is insufficient in warranting a significant change.    Any information you can offer is greatly appreciated.     Julie Schwarzenegger, OTR/L Operations Manager Ballard Therapy Services [EMAIL PROTECTED] (704) 293-9859   Confidentiality Notice: This electronic mail message, including my attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipients and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited.