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Issue Focus: Documentation
Headlines | Featured Question | Continuing Education | Shop Online
Welcome to Access SLP Health Care, a bimonthly e-newsletter that addresses the specific needs of speech-language pathologists working in health care. If you have not already subscribed, send a blank e-mail with the word "subscribe" in the subject line to: Access-SLPhealthcare-request@lists.asha.org. If you know of any colleagues who might enjoy this newsletter, please forward this e-mail.
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We hope you find Access SLP Health Care informative, practical, and easy to use. Check out the information, resources, services and education opportunities you need to help you succeed. ASHA—working to keep you connected.
If there are topics you'd like to see featured, send an e-mail AccessSLP@asha.org.
Headlines
- Paperwork Cited as One of Greatest Challenges in Health Care
In the 2005 Health Care survey, 53% of respondents indicated that clinical and reimbursement paperwork was one of the greatest challenges in working in a health care setting. Read more about the state of speech-language pathology in health care.
- Clinical Record Keeping in Speech-Language Pathology [PDF]
Learn more about documentation issues and considerations, including suggested components of quality documentation and record retention information.
- Coding for Reimbursement
Thorough documentation for reimbursement includes appropriate diagnosis and procedure codes. These Frequently Asked Questions address common coding issues and concerns.
- Medicare Medical Review Guidelines for Speech-Language Pathology [PDF]
While payers may have their own requirements about what documentation they want to see, many payers follow Medicare's lead. Learn more about Medicare documentation requirements (see page 15 of the document).
- SLP Advocate
Up-to-date information about federal and state regulations, legislation, and reimbursement is available on the ASHA Web site or in your email box. Read more about what is happening now in health care and how you can sign up for this important resource.
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Featured Question
I know that Medicare and other payers want to see evidence of "medical necessity" in my documentation. What exactly do they mean by this, and how can I make sure I am documenting this correctly?
The term "medical necessity" has been used by health plans for many years to define limits of coverage, despite a lack of agreement on what constitutes medical necessity. Over the years, the term has evolved from a health plan concept directed by physicians to a cost-saving measure used by health plan administrators and medical directors.
Medicare defines medical necessity as a "service that is reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury, or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member." The service must be consistent with the symptoms of the illness or injury, be provided within generally acceptable professional medical standards, not performed for the convenience of the patient or physician, and furnished at a safe level and in a setting appropriate to the patient's medical needs. Some private payers define the term even further, so there may be differences in payer expectations and requirements.
Speech-language pathologists must document how the services they provide meet the requirement to treat various types of disorders in children and adults. To assist members with this sometimes elusive concept, ASHA has developed an excellent resource, Medical Necessity for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Services [PDF]. In addition, a number of resources available on ASHA's billing and reimbursement site include information about medical necessity and documentation.
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Continuing Education
Celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month in May!
Find everything you need for your event, including signage, apparel, children's activities, giveaway items and more.
Get Discovered!
Sign Up For ProSearch - ASHA's Free Referral Service
Want to meet you patient needs more effectively? ProSearch, ASHA's online directory of audiology and speech-language pathology programs, helps consumers find quality services from programs that employ ASHA-certified SLPs and audiologists.
Multicultural Grants Available
For the eleventh consecutive year, ASHA has allocated funding for projects on multicultural activities with up to $20,000 awarded for a single grant. It is expected that the average individual award given will be between $7,000 and $10,000. Applications must be postmarked by April 7, 2006. Proposals receiving funding will be announced by June, 2006.
Award Programs for Students and New Faculty
ASHA's current award programs are currently available to undergraduate, masters, AuD and PhD students enrolled in CSD programs; postdoctoral fellows and new faculty. They are designed to foster leadership and promote careers in academia and research.
ASHA Recognized by IACET
ASHA was recently recognized by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) as an IACET Licensed Standards User (LSU). ASHA is one of the first organizations to receive this designation from IACET. Recognition of the ASHA CE Program by IACET serves to further enhance the recognition of ASHA CEUs with licensing and certifying agencies regulating speech-language pathologists, audiologists and speech/language/hearing scientists.
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Products for Your Practice
Learn more about the products ASHA has developed, including handouts, posters and brochures, to help you educate consumers about communication disorders and the role of speech-language pathologists.
Subscribe to E-mail alerts for journals
Take advantage of an ASHA member benefit! Receive an e-mail alert when new issues of each of the four ASHA journals are posted on the Web.
The next issue of Access SLP Health Care will be posted in May 2006.
ASHA Research (a Member benefit) | ASHA Journals | Coding & Reimbursement (a Member benefit) | SLPs in Health Care (a Member benefit) | Office of Multicultural Affairs | Special Interest Divisions
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