Fellow OTs: I believe an OT evaluating and treating dysphagia can be more beneficial that a SLP, particulary in the long term care setting. I believe we have better wholistic training to treat in the area of swallowing difficulties. We consider more during our treatments than SLP, such as vision, spatial relations, bilateral integration, effects of the enviroment, sitting balance/posture, overall endurance (not just oral motor), cervical ROM/strength and UE strength/ROM/sensation and there is more. From a management perspective it can be very benefical for a OT eval and treat for dysphagia. SLPs are difficult to find and are not always full-time emoployees; so you have to call them in at a higher per-diem rate and they might just do a screen, which is not billable. Once again, it depends on your programming and staffing patterns. Also, under Medicare part B, SLP claims are reviewed at a much higher rate, so there is a greater potential for denials. What I have stated above is coming from treating dysphagia in a long term care setting. SLPs can have a very beneficial role in this setting for dysphagia, cognition and also in other settings. In general, I have found that it comes down to how comfortable and the amount of training an OT has in dysphagia. Personally, I am a huge advocate for OTs to eval and treat for dypshagia. I have done it for the last 5 years. The company I was previously working for had a policy that every OT must receive training in dysphagia. I have now moved onto a more non-traditional OT role in operating a division of medical supply company; where I perform management, sales and OT duties for custom seating devices and orthotics. Please feel free to comment on non-traditional roles using our OT training. I see more and more of these because of the value and skills we can bring to an organization. Please feel free to comment in an open forum or personally, I have a alot of positive views and suggestions as to how to make OTs treating dysphagia work and non-traditional settings. Have a great Holiday!! Gregory M. Stelmach, OTR/L Director of Operations Centralized Medical Equipment 50 Kerry Place Norwood, MA 781-953-0175 www.CentralizedMedicalEquipment.com
Jim Arceneaux <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hello, Per Medicare guidelines speech therapists are not allowed to bill using the e-stim cpt codes. Their only option for billing vital stim would be to use the swallowing treatment code. This code is untimed, meaning they can only bill it once per visit. Not very lucrative. Jimmie Orli Weisser-Pike wrote: Our ST does Vital Stim and bills Medicare. None of the OTs that I know work directly with swallowing issues. The inpatient rehab unit has a "diners" group at each meal supervised by either OTs or STs--making sure that the patients get their meals thickened, use correct feeding strategies, etc. ---Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Jim Arceneaux Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 9:34 PM To: OTlist Subject: [OTlist] Swallowing Hello, Is anyone out there working with swallowing patients? It seems to be a dead issue for OT at most sites, but at my work there has been some talk about Vital Stim and the inability for ST to bill for this modality under a Medicare situation. Just curious. Jim --------------------------------- Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn ************************************************************************************** ----------------------------------------- Smart Medicine. Inspired Care. And the awards to prove it. Recognized as a Top 50 Healthcare Network. To learn about other recognition and awards Baptist has earned, visit: http://www.bmhcc.org/aboutus/awards/index.asp This message and any files transmitted with it may contain legally privileged, confidential, or proprietary information. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you are not permitted to use, copy, or forward it, in whole or in part without the express consent of the sender. Please notify the sender of the error by reply email, disregard the foregoing messages, and delete it immediately. -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn ************************************************************************************** --------------------------------- Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn ************************************************************************************** --------------------------------- Want to start your own business? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************************
