New and Noteworthy
Patient Education Fact Sheets Available!
There are 29 different fact sheets, written in patient-friendly language, that you can copy & use to educate your patients & family members/caregivers. Currently they are all posted in English and Portuguese, but they are also being translated into other languages as well & will be available in the near future. Physician Fact Sheets are also in the process of being finalized & will be available in the future.
Expanding Neurologic Expertise: Advanced Practice in Vestibular Physical Therapy- Coming in the fall!
Developed by a team of clinicians with expertise in vestibular rehabilitation, this course is designed to expand knowledge of complex vestibular pathologies, improve clinical reasoning in differential diagnosis and present innovative intervention strategies. To facilitate learning, the course uses interactive case-based presentations and video eye movement analyses on complex vestibular diagnoses including migraine, anxiety, atypical BPPV, central vestibular dysfunction, and brain injury. Specific attention to recent advances in examination and intervention strategies are presented. Learners will have the opportunity to collaborate with each other to solve specific clinical questions via electronic searches and peer interaction.
Click here for more information on the Neuro Section website!
September 11-12, 2010: University of St. Augustine at San Diego, San Marcos, CA
October 9-10, 2010: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
JNPT Special Issue on Vestibular Rehabilitation- June 2010
Be sure to check out the June 2010 issue of JNPT, which is now available on line at the JNPT website. This special issue highlights some of the current research by investigators from around the world who are making a difference in the care of people with vestibular disorders.
2010 Vestibular SIG Awards!
Service Award: Susan Herdman, PT, PhD, FAPTA
Best Newsletter Article: Michael Schubert, PT, PhD
Thanks to you both for all that you contribute to the Vestibular SIG!!
APTA FAQ's on Billing and Reimbursement is now available!
The APTA has recently published a list of FAQ's regarding standard coding guidance and practice. Thank you Sue Whitney and the Practice committee, along with the APTA leadership for your work in putting this very useful document together! This is a member benefit, and a good example of how your membership dollars work for you!
CMS Rules on the Canalith Repositioning Maneuver CPT Code
CMS recently announced that physical therapists will be able to bill for canalith repositioning procedures using CPT code 97112 (neuromuscular reeducation). In the final 2009 physician fee schedule rule, CMS had made a decision to bundle and therefore not pay separately for the newly created CPT code (95992) that was developed to describe canalith repositioning procedures. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) met with CMS and sent written correspondence in response to the rule urging them to change this policy to allow physical therapists to continue to provide and bill for this service. In response to APTA's request, CMS has set forth a policy that will allow physical therapists to continue to bill for canalith repositioning using CPT code 97112 retroactive to January 1, 2009. APTA recommends that you contact your Medicare contractor to confirm that the contractor is aware of this new policy and request their guidance on resubmission of claims for canalith repositioning procedures.
Copies of the CMS Transmittal and Medlearn Matters Article announcing this policy change are included below.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/transmittals/downloads/R1691CP.pdf
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6397.pdf