Are you ready for PDGM changes?
In the Know
October is National Physical Therapy Month. It’s a perfect time to talk about the benefits of physical therapy.
October is National Physical Therapy Month. It’s a perfect time to talk about the benefits of physical therapy.
But, with the new Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) just months away, it’s also the perfect time to talk about the changes coming to therapy reimbursements in home health.
What’s the PDGM point?
According to Robert Holly of Home Health Care News, “PDGM is meant to correct what Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officials see as a blatant overuse of therapy under the current Prospective Payment System (PPS) for home health care.” The big change coming, reports Holly, “ties therapy reimbursement to patient characteristics rather than the sheer volume of services delivered.”
How do you improve “patient characteristics?”
So, if your reimbursements are tied to improved patient characteristics, how can you improve patient characteristics with LESS physical therapy?
You do it by shifting to a “Restorative Care” approach to care. With a “Restorative Care” model, you’ll train your caregivers to help every client live up to their full potential so that they can rely less on therapy.
Of course, this doesn’t eliminate the need for physical and occupational therapy, but a whole-team approach to restorative care has the potential to benefit your clients and your bottom line, alike.
What exactly is restorative care?
Restorative means “having the ability to renew strength or health.” So, restorative care is a type of care that helps clients feel strong and healthy once more. It’s sort of like restoring a table or a classic car. You take something that has become run-down and worn out and try to bring it back its former beauty and usefulness.
Except with your clients, you’re starting with people who have become weak or frail from illness or disease and you try to revive that spark that once twinkled in their eyes.
How do you do it?
Download our new Restorative Care Caregiver Challenge today!
In it you’ll find:
- A challenging quiz you can distribute to your care team that allows you to gauge current knowledge and identify any knowledge gaps.
- Information on the importance of Range of Motion and Mobility.
- And helpful tips on how to inspire clients who are depressed, tired, confused, or in pain and may have trouble getting motivated to participate in restorative care activities.
