Billing Alert.

Q: If a beneficiary in a Medicare Part A stay starts physical therapy, does that restart the "Medicare clock"--i.e., is a new assessment required?

A: The start of therapy during a Medicare Part A stay is not in itself a reason to perform a new assessment. But if the condition of the resident changes as to meet the definition of a significant change, then the facility must complete a significant change in status assessment. See p. 2-7 of the revised Long-Term Care Resident Assessment Instrument User's Manual for the definition of a significant change and p. 2-38 for confirmation of this issue.

From Billing Alert for Long-Term Care by Lee Heinbaugh, consultant, PMG, LLC (Cleveland), published by HCPro, Inc. (www.hcpro.com). Nursing Homes/Long Term Care Management bears no responsibility for the opinions/advice contained herein.