[KarenH]

I am curious how often other respiratory companies are sending out their RT's for patient care visits. I realize some insurance contracts have specified frequency but I was wondering what is industry standard.

[Cuda]

Karen, I don't know if there is an industry standard but from my experience working with my accreditation clients, accreditation standards dictated the frequency and what needed to be documented.

[KarenH]

Cuda, Thank you for the reply. We are accredited and fully understand the documentation requirements etc. We are reviewing the frequency of the visits for our patients based on the continued reimbursement cuts. I am interested in know what other locations are providing... every 3 months, every 6 months, once a year?

[truthbeknown]

There is no industry standard or accreditation standard. ACHC specifies that you see a patient as often as the MD orders. If the doctor doesn't order HV's
then you aren't obliged to provide any. I'm not sure what JCAHO requires.

I'm surprised anybody can afford to send therapists out for HV's unless they are vent patients.

I did about 925 HV's in 2007. Everyone got visited at least once. This year so far I've done about 6. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty to do but it's not direct patient care any more.

I'll be surprised if RT's will be seen in the home much longer (

[KarenH]

Wow. Now I am REALLY interested in what others are doing.

After hearing a national company in our area is maintaining one therapist for a few thousand patients I was shocked.

I have found little to no documentation regarding the frequency of visits.

Please take a moment and post your two cents regarding the frequency your company provides.

[James T]

Our company sends an RT about every two months, sometimes more for people who need an RT visit. We also get many patients who switch to our company because of our service. The other companies in our area use the dump and run method of delivery. We send an RT to EVERY new O2 and CPAP set-up. Our patients love us and we don't lose patients to other companies (knock on wood).

[tomr@merwinmedical.com]

We have been forced to severly curtail the frequency of visits due to cuts in re-imbursement. Our RT staff now work only by phone with the exception of one follow up home visit for high tech patients. They hate the poor level of involvment with the patients. Additional visits are performed based upon the results of the initial follow up assessment. Patients may request visits only for problems that cannot be resolved over the phone. And it sounds like it may be worse in the future, forcing patients to bring in equipment or come in to our offices by appointment for additional training or problem resolution. Accreditation requires patient assessment and follow up for certain levels of patients but with few exceptions, states how this is accomplished. With the Competative bid rates where they are at, plus the majority of our HMO and Commercial payers following Medicares example, it will be a miracle if we can keep any Therapists on staff in the future.