Physician Documentation for O&P
Rick
Description
Collection
Title:
Physician Documentation for O&P
Creator:
Rick
Date:
4/18/2012
Text:
Dear Colleagues,
I have known that physician's must clearly document the medical necessity of our devices, but I'm hearing many scary stories about the independent company hired to retrieve funds for Medicare. They're being paid on a percentage of what they recover???!!! From what I hear, they can & are finding holes in whatever the physician's document & requesting money back from the P&O providers. Even when our charts & documents are compete.
Is it true that the prescribing physician must document not only about the current prosthetic fit, function & condition, but also MMT, ROM & cardiopulmonary condition of the user...basically a full physical exam? Next they'll want blood work & X-rays too! Who's actually doing this?! Are there forms out there to provide the physicians to guide them in their evaluation? I feel I am already holding the physician's hands while they document about medical necessity because they just do not have the time (or interest)to fully understand everything that goes into a device. And why should they? We went to school for this...now a Masters degree....soon a PhD!?
As you can figure...I am beyond frustrated that this is being allowed to happen. Seems we try our darnedest to meet all the documentation requirements, provide rationales for providing reasonable devices to restore function & it's still not enough. What is being done to correct the horrendous situation?
Sorry for the rant, but some days......make no sense.
Rick
Rick Milen, CPO, PTA
NEXSTEP, Inc.
Prosthetic Specialists
West Lawn, PA
www.iwalknexstep.com
I have known that physician's must clearly document the medical necessity of our devices, but I'm hearing many scary stories about the independent company hired to retrieve funds for Medicare. They're being paid on a percentage of what they recover???!!! From what I hear, they can & are finding holes in whatever the physician's document & requesting money back from the P&O providers. Even when our charts & documents are compete.
Is it true that the prescribing physician must document not only about the current prosthetic fit, function & condition, but also MMT, ROM & cardiopulmonary condition of the user...basically a full physical exam? Next they'll want blood work & X-rays too! Who's actually doing this?! Are there forms out there to provide the physicians to guide them in their evaluation? I feel I am already holding the physician's hands while they document about medical necessity because they just do not have the time (or interest)to fully understand everything that goes into a device. And why should they? We went to school for this...now a Masters degree....soon a PhD!?
As you can figure...I am beyond frustrated that this is being allowed to happen. Seems we try our darnedest to meet all the documentation requirements, provide rationales for providing reasonable devices to restore function & it's still not enough. What is being done to correct the horrendous situation?
Sorry for the rant, but some days......make no sense.
Rick
Rick Milen, CPO, PTA
NEXSTEP, Inc.
Prosthetic Specialists
West Lawn, PA
www.iwalknexstep.com
Citation
Rick, “Physician Documentation for O&P,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 24, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/233484.
