Plan of treatment certification

Definition

The outside signature a therapist-written plan needs, and the ninety-day clock that follows it.

Why It Matters

A physical therapy practice is the one on this shelf holding no controlled-substance registration at all, and the outside authority it does depend on is easy to miss, because the therapist writes the plan. Federal rules let the plan of treatment be established by the physical therapist who furnishes the services, and then require a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant with knowledge of the case to sign it. The initial certification must be obtained as soon as possible after the plan is established, and recertification is required at least every ninety days. A share of the revenue therefore waits on signatures from people the practice does not employ. Ask for the count of certifications outstanding and the age of the oldest, because each one is care already delivered and not yet safe to bill.