Language quoted from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) and coverage provisions in interpretive manuals is italicized throughout the policy. NCDs and coverage provisions in interpretive manuals are not subject to the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Review Process (42 CFR 405.860[b] and 42 CFR 426 [Subpart D]). In addition, an administrative law judge may not review an NCD. See §1869(f)(1)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act.

Unless otherwise specified, italicized text represents quotation from one or more of the following CMS sources:

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, §1833(e) prohibits Medicare payment for any claim which lacks the necessary information to process the claim.

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, §1861(cc)(1) discusses CORF facility services.

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, §1861(s)(2)(B) provides coverage of services incident to physician’s services furnished to hospital patients.

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, §1862(a)(1)(A) allows coverage and payment for only those services that are considered to be reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member.

42 CFR 485.70-CORF personnel qualifications- lists qualifications for respiratory therapists.

Federal Register: December 31, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 251) p 79999-80000 Final rule revisions to payment policies specific to G0237-G0239

CMS Manual System, Pub 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 6, §§20.4-20.4.1

CMS Manual System, Pub 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 8, §50.8.2

CMS Manual System, Pub 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 12, §§10, 20, 20.1, 20.2, 30, 30.1, and 40.5

CMS Manual System, Pub 100-03, Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual, Chapter 1, Part 4, §240.7 and §240.8

CMS Manual System, Pub 100-20, One Time Notification, Transmittal 477, dated April 24, 2009, Change Request 6338

Respiratory care (respiratory therapy) is defined as those services prescribed by a physician or a non-physician practitioner for the assessment and diagnostic evaluation, treatment, management, and monitoring of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of cardiopulmonary function.

Monitoring is defined as the periodic checking of the equipment in actual use to ascertain proper functioning; real time tracking the individual’s condition to assure that he/she is receiving effective respiratory therapy services; and periodic evaluation of the patient’s progress in improvement of function.

Respiratory care (respiratory therapy) services may include but are not limited to the following:

• application techniques to support oxygenation and ventilation in an acute illness (e.g., establish/maintain artificial airway, ventilatory therapy, precise delivery of oxygen concentrations, aid in removal of secretions from pulmonary tree)
• therapeutic use/monitoring of medicinal gases, pharmacologically active mists and aerosols, and equipment (e.g., resuscitators, ventilators)
• bronchial hygiene therapy (e.g., deep breathing, coughing exercises, IPPB, postural drainage, chest percussion/vibration, and nasotracheal/endotracheal suctioning)
• diagnostic tests ordered by and for the evaluation by a physician or NPP (e.g., pulmonary function test, spirometry, and blood gas analyses etc.)
• pulmonary rehabilitation techniques (e.g., exercise conditioning, breathing retraining, and patient education regarding management of patient’s respiratory problems) and
• periodic assessment of the patient for the effectiveness of respiratory therapy services.

The above services may be performed by respiratory therapists, physical therapists, nurses, and other qualified personnel as described by relevant state practice acts. Documentation in the medical record must clearly support the need for respiratory therapy services to be separately reimbursed.

Respiratory care (respiratory therapy) services can be considered reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of a specific illness or injury. The service provided must be consistent with the severity of the patient’s documented illness and must be reasonable in terms of modality, amount, frequency, and duration of treatment. The treatment must be generally accepted by the professional community as safe and effective for the purpose used, and recognized standards of care should not be violated.

Medicare coverage of respiratory care (respiratory therapy) provided as outpatient hospital or extended care services depends on the determination by the attending physician (as part of his/her plan of treatment) that for the safe and effective administration of such services the procedures or exercises in question need to be performed by a respiratory therapist, physical therapists, nurses, and other qualified personnel as described by relevant state practice acts as listed above. In addition, Medicare may cover postural drainage and pulmonary exercises furnished by a respiratory therapist as incident to a physician's professional service.

Instructing a patient in the use of equipment, breathing exercises, etc. may be considered reasonable and necessary for the treatment of the patient’s condition and can usually be given to a patient during the course of treatment by any of the health personnel involved, (e.g., physician, nurse, respiratory care practitioner or other qualified personnel). These educational instructions are bundled into the covered service and separate payment is not made. Separate billing for one-on-one education is rarely necessary and is usually only reasonable at the start of the treatment plan. Initially, for outpatient care where a series of visits provides “… an individualized physical conditioning and exercise program using proper breathing techniques…” separate billing for one-on-one intervention is both reasonable and necessary. Provision of more information than is ordinarily provided during the course of a treatment (e.g., extensive theoretical background in the pathology, etiology, and physiological effects of the disease) is not considered reasonable and necessary. Group sessions that only offer generalized (i.e., non-individualized) education and training are not covered.

Therapeutic procedures with an individualized physical conditioning and exercise program using proper breathing techniques can be considered for a patient with activity limitations. Breathing retraining, energy conservation, and relaxation techniques are often used. Ventilatory muscle training (VMT) may be considered reasonable and necessary in a very select population of pulmonary patients who demonstrate significantly decreased respiratory muscle strength and who remain symptomatic despite optimal therapy. Routine exercise, or any exercise, without a documented need for skilled care, is not covered.

NA

NA