Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024
A.
To be considered a participating physical therapist in the Program, the
provider shall:
(1) Be a physical therapist
licensed to practice physical therapy in Maryland or a jurisdiction bordering
Maryland;
(2) Agree to abide by the
provisions set forth in this regulation by signing and sending to the
Department the designated Departmental form;
(3) Follow standard health and safety
procedures to protect an eligible patient from potential hazards;
(4) Agree to the medical and reporting
requirements of the Program pursuant to Regulation .04A(5), (9), and (10) of
this chapter;
(5) Agree to accept,
as payment in full, the amount paid by the Program pursuant to §E of this
regulation plus the amount paid by the eligible patient's health insurer, if
applicable; and
(6) Agree not to
bill an eligible patient an additional charge for the covered
service.
B. The Program
shall reimburse a participating physical therapist for a medically necessary
physical therapy service ordered in writing by a participating physician when
the service is:
(1) Provided by a physical
therapist or by a physical therapist assistant under the direct supervision of
a physical therapist;
(2) Provided
in a physical therapy office or the patient's home;
(3) Considered one or more of the following:
(a) Diagnostic;
(b) Rehabilitative; or
(c) Therapeutic;
(4) Directly related to the written treatment
order;
(5) Of sufficient complexity
and sophistication, or the condition of the patient is such that the service of
a physical therapist is required;
(6) Rendered pursuant to a written treatment
order which:
(a) Is signed and dated by the
prescribing physician;
(b)
Specifies the following:
(i) Body part to be
treated;
(ii) Type of modality or
treatment to be rendered;
(iii)
Expected result of physical therapy treatment; and
(iv) Frequency and duration of
treatment;
(c) Is kept
on file by the physical therapist as a part of the permanent patient record
subject to review by the Department or its designee;
(d) Is not altered by the physical therapist
unless medically indicated, whereby the physical therapist shall make a
necessary change and sign the treatment order, advising the prescribing
physician of the change and noting it in the patient record;
(7) Recorded in the permanent
record to include the following:
(a) The
treatment order;
(b) The initial
evaluation by the physical therapist;
(c) Significant past history;
(d) Pertinent diagnoses and
prognoses;
(e) Contraindications,
if applicable; and
(f) Progress
notes, at least once every 2 weeks;
(8) For a written treatment order for
treatment exceeding 30 days and the participating physician:
(a) Reviews and rewrites the order monthly;
or
(b) Initials and dates a copy of
the original order monthly; and
(9) For an initial physical therapy
evaluation, on a one-time basis, per condition, when the requirements of this
regulation are met.
C.
The Program does not reimburse for services:
(1) Performed by a physical therapy assistant
when not under the direct supervision of the physical therapist;
(2) Performed by a physical therapy aide;
or
(3) Not directly related to the
treatment of breast and cervical cancer.
D. The participating physical therapist is
responsible for the following:
(1) Submitting
to the Department, within 12 months of the date of service, a request for
payment on the designated form;
(2)
Certifying on the invoice that the treatment order is on file and was in effect
at the time that services were rendered; and
(3) Specifying on the invoice the type of
treatment provided.
E.
Reimbursement Principles.
(1) The Department
shall reimburse the participating physical therapist:
(a) The current Medical Assistance approved
rate in the State for a covered service performed in the provider's office for
an eligible patient who is uninsured or has insurance that does not provide
coverage for the reimbursed procedure or service;
(b) The outstanding deductible and patient
contribution for a covered service performed in the provider's office for an
eligible patient who has Medicare or other insurance that provides
reimbursement for a covered procedure or service; and
(c) For covered services performed in the
home of an eligible patient pursuant to Regulation .11F of this chapter.
(2) The Department may
not reimburse the participating physical therapist for:
(a) Services rendered by mail or
telephone;
(b) Completion of a form
or report;
(c) A broken or missed
appointment; or
(d) A service which
is provided at no charge to the general public.
F.The participating physical therapist shall
obtain recovery pursuant to Regulation .17 of this chapter.
G. The Program shall reimburse for claims
submitted pursuant to this regulation as set forth in Regulation .21 of this
chapter.