Hello Chuck At first, I couldn't figure out why you told me that OPTIMAL was created by APTA. I already knew that because I got the information from APTA's web site. Then I went back and reread my original message and saw that I stated the assessment came from AOTA - alas, another incident of my poor attention to detail!!
Thanks for the correction and the Transmittal 63 information. I've already posted my concerns about THAT situation to AOTA's Admin List serve. Apparently Medicare is coming out in July with some sort of outcome incentive payments. I wonder if OT will be represented this time! Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Charles Willmarth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] Marketing against PT? CW> Ron, CW> OPTIMAL was created by APTA. This page has more info about CW> OPTIMAL CW> http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Research&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=33241 CW> See this update on AOTA's webpage about Transmittal 63: CW> http://www.aota.org/nonmembers/area1/links/link354.asp CW> Transmittal 63 requires practitioners to include in their CW> documentation of evaluations either the results of a specified CW> performance measure tool or an explanation of certain factors. CW> Specifically, the practitioner may report the results of one of CW> the following measurement tools: the National Outcomes Measurement CW> System (NOMS) by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; CW> the Patient Inquiry* by Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes, Inc. CW> (FOTO); the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC); or the CW> Outpatient Physical Therapy Improvement in Movement Assessment Log CW> (OPTIMAL) by Cedaron, through the American Physical Therapy CW> Association. CW> If the practitioner chooses to not record the results of one CW> of those four instruments, then the documentation must contain CW> information CW> * supporting illness severity or complexity, CW> * supporting medical care prior to the current episode, CW> * required to indicate beneficiary health related to quality of life, CW> * required to indicate beneficiary social support, and CW> *required to indicate objective measurable beneficiary physical functioning. CW> Transmittal 63 also contains additional policy clarifications CW> and reiterates CMS' policies concerning billing for group CW> outpatient therapy and for the services of therapy students in CW> outpatient settings. CW> AOTA will be working with CMS to obtain clarification on CW> aspects of Transmittals 1145 and 63. The development of an CW> outcomes data measurement system focused on occupational therapy CW> is an AOTA priority. In the interim, until such system can be CW> implemented, AOTA is working internally and with CMS to develop CW> mechanisms for occupational therapists to meet CMS' new CW> documentation requirements. -- 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 **************************************************************************************
