Overheard at the CMS watercooler...

Overheard at the watercooler at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)...

Hmm,

In-person contact and proactive advice on exercise could reduce Medicare hospitalization and reduce costs, according to this February 11th JAMA article.

I wonder where we could get in-person contact and proactive advice on exercise?

Maybe using physical therapists as primary care providers would save money!

I couldn't hear the rest of the conversation between the CMS staffers but, as they walked back to their desks I heard one of them exclaim loudly,

"...this study offers ... important insights to guide Medicare policy on coordination of chronic disease care going forward.

“... care coordinators must interact in person with patients and not simply educate or assist them by telephone. Only 4 of the 15 programs emphasized in-person contact between coordinators and participants..."

I hope those staffers have some influence with their bosses - so physical therapists get better positioned to help our patients with exercise advice and save some money.

Would most physical therapists in the United States feel comfortable in a primary care role, giving advice to patients?

What do you think?