How do I count therapy minutes when working with 2 Part A residents?
Publication 100-02, Chapter 15, section 230 states, “Group Therapy Services. Contractors pay for outpatient physical therapy services (which includes outpatient speech-language pathology services) and outpatient occupational therapy services provided simultaneously to two or more individuals by a practitioner as group therapy services (97150). The individuals can be, but need not be performing the same activity. The physician or therapist involved in group therapy services must be in constant attendance, but one-on-one patient contact is not required.” When billing and assigning RUG scores, the correct RUG code is based on the minutes and number of disciplines of rehabilitation services that is provided to each beneficiary so this would also include group therapy minutes that are documented.
