Hospitals Bounce Back but Florida Physical Therapists May Still Get the "Take Back Letter"

Florida physical therapsists may still be on the hook, beginning January 1, 2012, resulting in the dreaded "Take Back Letter" from Medicare for services provided to orthopedic patients who don't meet new Medical Necessity requirements under Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC).

"The physicians will receive a form letter which will be entitled a “Take-Back Letter” requiring return of any funds paid in conjunction with the affected hospitalization. 

This will affect all cardiologists and orthopedists involved in the care – both invasive and noninvasive.  

This may include outpatient reimbursement for follow-up care related to the hospitalization. It’s not clear whether other specialists or primary care physicians will also receive Take-Back Letters."

Peter R. Kovacek, PT, DPT, MSA of PT Manager reported Friday, December 3rd that Medicare was Tightening the Screws on high-utilization providers in high-utilization states, such as Florida, California, Michigan, Texas, New York, Louisiana, and Illinois.

The Financial Times, on Monday December 6th, reported that hospital operators, such as Tenet Healthcare, bounced back from the 11% share price drop on Friday:

"...but analysts remained concerned that government healthcare schemes may limit expensive cardiovascular and orthopedic treatments."

Physical therapists who treat post-surgical patients could see a drop in patient volume, beginning January 2012, from orthopedic surgeons.