Concurrent Therapy Considerations

Q:  How does CMS define “concurrent” therapy treatments and what is the impact of providing treatments with this mode? 


A:  For Medicare Part A, concurrent treatments occur when two patients are being treated at the same time by the same therapist/assistant yet they are not performing the same or similar activities.  Both patients must be in the line of site of the therapist/assistant.  Medicare Part B does not recognize concurrent therapy and anytime two patients are seen at the same time, the treatment must be billed and documented as a group treatment.  For Medicare Part A patients only ½ of the therapy minutes delivered concurrently will contribute for the total needed to achieve each Rehab Rug level.  Facilities with rehab programs utilizing a significant amount of concurrent therapy treatments may see lower RUG levels if additional treatment minutes are not provided by either individual or group therapy modes. An increased number of therapists or increased productivity of existing staff may need to be considered.