Hello Mary: Thanks for the recap. What you typed is what I remembered.
About a year ago, when AOTA was providing input to CMS on pending changes to the PMD regs, I asked them to include a statement about REQUIRING a OT eval for all PMDs. I don' know if they included such a statement but as you said below, a therapist eval is currently not required. I think the RESNA cert is crazy. In my experience there are really two distinct category of w/c users. Those with positioning/mobility needs and those with mobility needs. For example, the vast majority of w/c evals that I've done are for clients who have no specific seating needs and where standard seating is very satisfactory. In this types of situations, no specific seating knowledge (beyond what we get in school) is necessary. On the other hand, there are those patients who need extensive seating and positioning equipment. In these situations, I think RESNA certification is indicated. Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Mary Alice Cafiero <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] ethical wheelchair question MAC> I don't have the current CMS reference but currently CMS is not MAC> requiring a therapist evaluation. They are requiring that a MAC> patient be seen for a face-to-face evaluation with their MAC> physician within 60 days of the wheelchair prescription. Many MAC> physicians are able to identify and document the mobility MAC> limitation of their patient but are not able to sufficiently MAC> document the patients functional ability to perform MRADLs MAC> within their home. Whereas a therapist is more able to thoroughly MAC> address the patients mobility limitations and identify which MAC> piece of Mobility Assistive Equipment will meet the patients MAC> needs. Keeping in mind that the least costly alternatives must be MAC> tried or at least considered and ruled out if a PMD is going to MAC> be considered for payment. Medicare has made it clear that for MAC> these situations the ordering physician may refer the patient to MAC> the PT/OT to perform a wheelchair assessment. However, the MAC> therapist performing this wheelchair assessment cannot have a MAC> financial relationship with the supplier of the equipment. This MAC> physician ordered wheelchair assessment is reimbursable through MAC> Medicare Part B. The physician may then sign the therapist's MAC> evaluation to show their agreement with the findings. MAC> So at this point, the therapist is not technically required to do MAC> the evaluation, but is often called upon to do the evaluation MAC> that the physician then signs off on. The word is that the future MAC> of Medicare will be a therapist evaluation as a requirement for a MAC> power wheelchair. Even more interesting is that the current plan MAC> is that the therapist will have to be an ATP (Assistive MAC> Technology Practitioner through RESNA) by 2008 (I think April). MAC> Does that make sense? MAC> Mary Alice MAC> On Feb 5, 2007, at 6:32 PM, Ron Carson wrote: -- 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 **************************************************************************************
