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Centrex Rehab

Centrex Rehab

Empowering people to live their best lifes

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Company News

Taking the Cap off of Outpatient Therapy Services

November 14, 2017

  

 

 

Matthew Mesibov, PT, GCS
Clinical Physical Therapy Specialist

Back in 1997 congress created legislation known as The Balanced Budget Act and placed an annual and “arbitrary” financial cap on rehabilitation services reimbursement under Medicare part B. I use the word arbitrary because the decision of the total dollar amount was not based on needs related to a specific diagnosis and patient findings but due to the amount of dollars available to spend divided by the number of beneficiaries who were eligible for physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech language pathology services.  Due to federal regulations, the dollar cap which in 2017 is a shared $1980 for physical therapy and speech language pathology and $1980 for occupational therapy.

The program then included a way to apply for services beyond the financial cap if extenuating circumstances existed and were approved by the Medicare contractor.  So, picture an older adult who may have had a stroke or another neurological disease such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis in need of necessary therapy services.  If the therapy cap was met, then you would have to check if the diagnosis qualified as an “automatic” exception vs. a manual exception.  Eventually the program changed to an exceptions process where it is up to the clinician’s clinical judgment which they must support in their documentation as to whether services should continue.

Over the years, through advocacy efforts with legislators by patients, concerned citizens, therapists and other medical professionals, congress has recognized the cap’s potential harmful effect on Medicare beneficiaries and has continually extended an exceptions process that enables Medicare to pay its share for therapy services after the patient reaches the therapy cap limits.  We almost had an elimination of the therapy cap this past year which in the 11th hour was dropped as part of a larger legislative bill.

Move forward to Thursday, October 26, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Senate Finance Committee announced a bipartisan, bicameral deal on a permanent repeal of the annual outpatient Medicare therapy cap.

Here are some major points to the repeal plan:

  • The Medicare Part B therapy caps would be repealed beginning January 1, 2018.
  • There will be a targeted medical review process of therapy documentation beginning January 1, 2018 with the following details:
    • The dollar threshold for possible medical review targeting would be set at $3,000;
    • Therapy providers would be required to identify services exceeding the $3000 by submitting a billing code identifying this (known as the KX modifier)

Typically, when congress is going to repeal something such as the therapy cap, they will look to offset this cost by saving money elsewhere.  The current legislative proposal does not contain any offsets to pay for the provisions. As the current therapy cap exceptions is due to expire at the end of 2017, congress must act before the end of the year to either repeal the therapy caps or to grant another temporary extension for the exceptions process to protect beneficiary access to care.

We will have an answer as to whether the therapy cap comes off within the next month or so and I will be able to report on the results in our next quarterly blog.

Filed Under: Administrative, Blog, Company News

Centrex Rehab is pleased to announce The EverActive Wellness Club was featured on the SAIL Seminar website

July 12, 2017

The SAIL Program, Stay Active and Independent for Life, is one of the evidence-based falls prevention programs that is offered through Centrex Rehab’s EverActive Wellness Club. An excerpt of the article is below:

“SAIL Seminars provided the initial training for Centrex Rehab staff in 2013.  Centrex Rehab then began to disseminate SAIL into the community in 2014, in a few independent and Assisted Living Communities through their EverActive Wellness Club.  Centrex Rehab continued to expand the number of SAIL Programs; these programs can now be found in two Skilled Nursing Facilities, as well as sixteen Independent / Assisted Living Communities.”

The full article can be found at: http://www.sailseminars.com/centrex-rehab/

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Company News, Uncategorized

Announcement: Three of Our Physical Therapists are now board certified Geriatric Clinical Specialists!

June 27, 2017

We are proud to announce that 3 of our Physical Therapists are now board certified Geriatric Clinical Specialists through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Kristen Reed, PT, DPT, GCS at Aurora on France, Katie Fandrey, PT, DPT, GCS at Martin Luther Care Center and Natalie Howard, PT, DPT, GCS at Augustana Care Health and Rehabilitation of Apple Valley completed geriatric residencies this past year and successfully passed their specialty board examinations. Kristin and Katie completed the University of Minnesota Geriatric Residency and Natalie completed the Geriatric Residency at Creighton University.

Centrex Rehab is so happy and proud to have you on our team serving the older adult population. We look forward to your continued contributions and leadership growth in the field of physical therapy and at Centrex Rehab!

 

Filed Under: Blog, Company News, Physical Therapy

Centrex Rehab Adds Fourth Owner BEK LLC

June 13, 2017

Centrex Rehab Adds Fourth Owner BEK, LLC to Serve More Older Adults

 

Since launching in 2012, Centrex Rehab’s mission of providing quality-based services to enhance individuals’ abilities to live their best lives has led to rapid growth. Now, Centrex is being joined by a fourth owner and will increase the number of employees from 420 to 500. New owner BEK, LLC consists of three nonprofits: Bethany Retirement Living, Eventide Senior Living Communities and Knute Nelson, which all serve older adults. BEK will enable Centrex to expand to West Central Minnesota and Fargo, North Dakota.

 

“Bethany is proud to partner with Centrex Rehab due to their comprehensive approach to care and outstanding resident and patient customer service,” says Bethany Retirement Living CEO Shawn Stuhaug.

 

“I am extremely honored to be joining with BEK to bring rehabilitation and therapy services to more people in both rural and metropolitan areas,” adds Centrex CEO Kristy Brown. “Adding a new owner is part of our strategic plan to increase the number of people we can serve.” Earlier this year, Centrex Rehab was joined by a third owner, Volunteers of America, and was originally launched by Augustana Care and Ebenezer.

 

Centrex Rehab’s strategic goals include the following:

  • To be a leader in the rehabilitation field with high customer satisfaction scores and offer at least one new solution to meet clients’ and patients’ needs
  • To be an employer of choice offering competitive salaries and benefits, retaining at least 75% of staff members, score well on staff surveys and offer educational programs for clinical growth and attainment of educational credits several times a year
  • To meet or exceed the annual budget and maximize reimbursement legally and ethically at every community
  • To increase growth internally and externally using social media and marketing strategies

 

Because BEK offers a continuum of care for older adults involving independent and assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, day services and more, Centrex Rehab can reach more older adults in need of housing, health care and community-based services than ever before.

 

Eventide President and CEO Jon Riewer is also looking forward to joining Centrex Rehab. “Eventide is excited to be working with Centrex in the delivery of therapy services for our Fargo-Moorhead and Jamestown communities,” he says. “Through a unique ownership model, this partnership allows us the opportunity to work with one of the best therapy providers in the business, expand our programming, and facilitates a more local voice in the delivery of therapy services.”

 

“Our mission of ‘enriching lives’ is top of mind when creating a partnership such as this one with Centrex Rehab,” says Knute Nelson President and CEO Mark Anderson. “Their reputation for providing high quality care therapy services and using best practices to do so is why they are the perfect fit for this collaboration, one that will ensure we can continue to enhance the quality of care for the individuals we serve.”

 

Centrex Rehab is working with BEK to achieve a smooth transition and expects most of BEK’s employees to stay on in their new roles. For more information or to interview Kristy Brown, please contact kbrown@CentrexRehab.com or (952) 495-6001.

 

About Centrex Rehab

 

Centrex Rehab provides quality based services to meet individual clients’ needs and enhance their abilities to live their best lives. Clients can find a broad range of therapy solutions for skilled nursing communities, senior housing, assisted living, hospitals, clinics, schools and other venues. As a certified rehabilitation agency, Centrex Rehab delivers a comprehensive approach to care including:

  • Contract provision of full service rehabilitation: management, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy
  • Staffing/recruiting to fill open positions and meet short-term or long-term staffing needs
  • Management consultation
  • Medicare compliance consultation
  • Home modification services by certified staff to meet individual accessibility needs
  • Cognitive screening/testing to allow for better case management of clients and caregivers
  • Other specialty areas including wheelchair clinics, massage therapy and lymphedema specialists

 

Centrex Rehab allows providers to maximize efficiencies, reduce administrative costs and assure consistent, quality patient care. To learn more, visit www.centrexrehab.com or call 952-495-6000.

 

About BEK

 

BEK, LLC is a company consisting of three nonprofit organizations which serve older adults and offer housing, health care and home health services: Bethany Retirement Living, Eventide Senior Living Communities and Knute Nelson.

Filed Under: Blog, Company News

Volunteers of America Joins Centrex Rehab as Third Owner

February 2, 2017

Centrex Rehab is honored to announce a new development that allows the company to nearly double in size and reach more people who need care than ever before.

As of February 1, 2017, Centrex Rehab has been joined by another owner after Volunteers of America bought into the company. The main factor influencing this decision is how closely aligned the missions of Centrex Rehab and existing owners Augustana Care and Ebenezer are with that of Volunteers of America.

Joining with Volunteers of America strengthens Centrex Rehab’s mission to provide quality based services to meet individual clients’ needs and enhance their abilities to live their best lives. “We’re excited to begin this new journey as we integrate our work into Volunteers of America’s various buildings and entities across multiple states,” adds Brown.

Centrex Rehab is now able to provide services in numerous areas where the national human services provider offers independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing services. “We look forward to the relationship and engagement with Centrex and what it will bring to Volunteers of America in the changing health care world, knowing we will be stronger together,” says Volunteers of America Executive Vice President-Health Care Operations Wayne Olson.

Both organizations are working together to ensure a smooth transition and Brown anticipates that services to clients will continue without interruption. For more information or to interview Kristy Brown, please contact Jenna at jzark@CentrexRehab.com or 612-238-8552.

 

About Centrex Rehab

Centrex Rehab provides quality based services to meet individual clients’ needs and enhance their abilities to live their best lives. Clients can find a broad range of therapy solutions for skilled nursing communities, senior housing, assisted living, hospitals, clinics, schools and other venues. As a certified rehabilitation agency, Centrex Rehab delivers a comprehensive approach to care including:

Contract provision of full service rehabilitation: management, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy
Staffing/recruiting to fill open positions and meet short-term or long-term staffing needs
Management consultation
Medicare compliance consultation
Home modification services by certified staff to meet individual accessibility needs
Cognitive screening/testing to allow for better case management of clients and caregivers
Other specialty areas including wheelchair clinics, massage therapy and lymphedema specialists
Centrex Rehab allows providers to maximize efficiencies, reduce administrative costs and assure consistent, quality patient care. To learn more, visit www.centrexrehab.com or call 952-495-6000.

 

About Volunteers of America

Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps almost 2 million people in over 400 communities. Learn more at www.voa.org.

Filed Under: Blog, Company News

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Bloomington, MN 55431

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