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Day Rehabilitation
10.00.02c

Policy

MEDICALLY NECESSARY

Day rehabilitation is considered medically necessary and, therefore, covered when the individual has a rehabilitation diagnosis (e.g., traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular accident, spinal cord injury) and all of the following criteria are met:
  • The day rehabilitation program is being prescribed to address the individual's extensive rehabilitation needs. The individual must require the multiple intensive therapies and coordinated care typically provided in an acute inpatient rehabilitation level of care but does not require the medical and nursing supervision provided in acute inpatient rehabilitation 24 hours a day.
  • The individual is medically stable.
  • The individual has an adult primary caregiver at home who is able to provide assistance in integrating the rehabilitation program into the home.
  • The individual must require at least 4 to 7 hours of rehabilitative therapies per day, 5 days per week, and may also require other medical services.
    • The individual must require at least two of the following rehabilitative therapy services:
      • Physical therapy
      • Occupational therapy
      • Speech therapy
    • Other medical services may include but are not limited to:
      • Nursing care
      • Psychological therapy
      • Case management
  • The individual is expected to functionally improve and has appropriate rehabilitation goals that warrant a day rehabilitation program.
  • The individual has the ability to communicate (verbally or nonverbally) basic needs*.
  • The individual is able to consistently follow directions and manage his/her behavior with minimal to moderate intervention by professional staff*.
  • The individual is willing to participate in a day rehabilitation program*.
*These criteria should be evaluated by giving deference to the individual's current medical condition (e.g., age, developmental status, injury, and/or impairment) and the requirements and goals of the day rehabilitation program (e.g., a day rehabilitation program structured for a pediatric patient with a traumatic brain injury).

For most of the Company's products, day rehabilitation has visit limitations. Individual member benefits must be verified.

NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY

If the above criteria are not met, day rehabilitation is considered not medically necessary and, therefore, not covered because the available published peer-reviewed literature does not support its use in the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury. Additionally, when therapy services can be provided in a traditional outpatient setting, day rehabilitation is not medically necessary and, therefore, not covered in lieu of traditional outpatient therapy.

The continued treatment of an individual when the maximum therapeutic goals of a treatment plan have been achieved and no additional functional improvement is apparent or expected to occur, sometimes referred to as maintenance therapy, is considered not medically necessary, and therefore, not covered because the provision of services ceases to be of therapeutic value.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

The individual's medical record must reflect the medical necessity for the care provided. These medical records may include, but are not limited to: records from the professional provider's office, hospital, nursing home, home health agencies, therapies, and test reports.

The Company may conduct reviews and audits of services to our members, regardless of the participation status of the provider. All documentation is to be available to the Company upon request. Failure to produce the requested information may result in a denial for the service.

For individuals transitioning from another level of care (e.g., acute rehabilitation) and being referred to a day rehabilitation program, a list of short- and long-term goals should be provided to the day rehabilitation program.

The medical record should include the plan of care that has been written and developed by the eligible healthcare provider. The plan of care must be established prior to the initiation of therapy and signed by the provider.

The plan of care should include the following information:
  • The individual's significant history
  • The individual's diagnoses that require therapy
  • Any related professional provider's orders
  • The goals for therapy, which should be specific and measurable, and the expected potential for achievement, which should include the type, amount, duration, and frequency of therapy services
  • Any contraindications to a course of therapy
  • The individual's awareness and understanding of the diagnoses, prognoses, and goals of therapy
  • The development of a maintenance program while therapy is being provided
  • When appropriate, a summary of past therapies and the results that were achieved
Daily treatment notes should include the following information:
  • Date of treatment
  • Specific treatment provided
  • Response to treatment
  • Skilled ongoing reassessment of the individual’s progress towards established goals
  • Objective, measurable, and specific documentation of progress towards goals using consistent and comparable methods
  • Changes to plan of care or objective reasoning for why the individual has not progressed towards goals
  • Name and credentials of the treating clinician

Guidelines

Acute inpatient therapy services are intensive (at least 3 hours a day, 5 to 7 days per week), consisting of at least two rehabilitative therapies, other associated medical services (e.g., case management), with 24 hours of medical and nursing supervision. Services are generally performed in a rehabilitation unit within a hospital or in a free-standing rehabilitation hospital.

Traditional outpatient therapy services are moderately intensive multidisciplinary services performed in an outpatient facility. The individual may receive all three rehabilitative therapy disciplines, but will typically receive 1 hour of each rehabilitative therapy 3 days per week.

BENEFIT APPLICATION

Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable benefit contract, day rehabilitation is covered when such a benefit exists and the medical necessity criteria listed in this medical policy are met. However, services that are identified in this policy as not medically necessary or a benefit contract exclusion are not eligible for coverage or reimbursement by the Company.

Description

Day rehabilitation programs are intensive, multidisciplinary, and comprehensive. They typically consist of 4 to 7 hours of daily rehabilitative therapies (i.e., physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy) 5 days per week and include a combination of one-to-one and group therapy. A component of a day rehabilitation program may include other medical services that include psychological therapy, nursing, and case management. Day rehabilitation programs are offered in an outpatient setting, and the individual returns home each evening and for the entire weekend. Day rehabilitation programs are provided when the individual requires the intensity of acute inpatient rehabilitation but does not require the medical and nursing supervision provided in acute inpatient rehabilitation 24 hours a day.

Maintenance therapy is a continuation of care and management of the individual when the therapeutic goals of a treatment plan have been achieved, no additional functional improvement is apparent or expected to occur, the provision of services for a condition ceases to be of therapeutic value, and the therapy is no longer considered medically appropriate or medically necessary. This includes maintenance services that seek to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong and enhance the quality of life.

References

Braddom R. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd edition. Philadelphia, PA; Saunders; 2000.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Benefit Hospital Manual. Chapter 1 - Inpatient Hospital Services Covered Under Part A. [CMS Web site]. 08/06/2021. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/bp102c01.pdf. Accessed August 3, 2023.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Benefit Hospital Manual. Chapter 12 - Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF) Coverage. [CMS Web site]. 01/25/2019. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/manuals/Downloads/bp102c12.pdf. Accessed August 3, 2022.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Benefit Hospital Manual. Chapter 15 - Covered Medical and Other Health Services [CMS Web site]. 05/20/2022. Available at: http://www.cms.gov/manuals/downloads/bp102c15.pdf. Accessed August 3, 2022.

Company Benefit Contracts.

Crotty M, Giles LC, Halbert J, et al. Home versus day rehabilitation: a randomised controlled trial. Age Ageing. 2008;37(6):628-633.

Frontera WR, Silver JK, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd edition. New York, NY. Saunders; 2008.

Hashimoto K, Takatsugu O, Watanabe S, et al. Effectiveness of a comprehensive day treatment program for rehabilitation of patients with acquired brain injury in Japan. J Rehabil Med. 2006;38(1):20-25.

Hershkovitz A, Beloosesky Y, Brill S, et al. Is a day rehabilitation programme associated with reduction of handicap in stroke patients? Clin Rehabil. 2004;18:261-266.

Kathrins B, Kathrins R, Marsico R, et al. Comparison of day rehabilitation to skilled nursing facility for the rehabilitation for total knee arthroplasty. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2013;92(1):61-67.

Olsson BG, Sunnerhagen KS. Effects of day hospital rehabilitation after stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2006;15(3):106-113.

Olsson BG, Sunnerhagen KS. Functional and cognitive capacity and health-related quality of life 2 years after day hospital rehabilitation for stroke: a prospective study. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2007;16(5):208-215.

Specialty-Matched Consultant Review.

Wilson CF, Wheatley-Smith L, Downes C. Analysis of intensive outpatient neuro-rehabilitation outcomes using FIM+FAMUK. NeuroRehabil. 2009;24:377-338​.

Coding

CPT Procedure Code Number(s)
N/A
ICD - 10 Procedure Code Number(s)
N/A
ICD - 10 Diagnosis Code Number(s)
N/A
HCPCS Level II Code Number(s)
N/A
Revenue Code Number(s)
THE FOLLOWING CODES ARE USED TO REPRESENT DAY REHABILITATION:

0931 Medical rehabilitation day program half day

0932 Medical rehabilitation day program full day


Coding and Billing Requirements

Policy History

1/13/2020
1/13/2020
5/17/2023
10.00.02
Medical Policy Bulletin
Commercial
No
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Independence Blue Cross is a subsidiary of Independence Health Group, Inc. — independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, serving the health insurance needs of Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania.