NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

Vestibular Telehealth Presentation

View a video demonstration of a Vestibular Physical Therapy assessment performed via Tehealth. Two vestibular clinicians who have been utilizing telehealth for several years present their tips and tricks for performing a live video assessment. This presentation is suitable for clinicians who are experienced in performing vestibular assessments in person and want to transition their clinical practice to telehealth when appropriate.

Clinical Practice Guidelines Summary.

Click HERE for the Summary of the articles.

Barany Society Facebook page

Barany Society is the International Society for Neuro-otology. Please visit the Barany Society Facebook page for links to new journal articles and podcasts and videos. 

Barany Society Lectures

The Journal of Vestibular Research has posted lectures from the Barany Society meeting that was held in South Korea. The lectures are by Drs. Staab, Strupp, KIngma, Halmagi, and Maggnusson. Bárány Society YouTube Videos The speakers are world-renowned and they are FREE.

New Video

Dr. Peter Johns has posted a new video on "Why you shouldn't do the HINTS exam on patients who DON'T have nystagmus, and why you shouldn't do the Dix-Hallpike test on patients WITH nystagmus"

What is Vestibular Rehabilitation? 

Click HERE as described by Sara Oxborough.

Coding Challenge

Lisa Dransfield, PT DPT, MA.

 Can Physical Therapists bill for instrumented tests of Vestibular and Balance function?

By Lisa Dransfield, PT, DPT, MA.

The Vestibular Rehabilitation SIG has received inquiries about physical therapists performing and charging for instrumented testing for vestibular patients; in particular, Computerized Dynamic Posturography, video Head Impulse Test (vHIT), and vestibular function testing typically associated with audiology. One must keep in mind that CPT codes are not discipline or specialty specific.  However, local payer policy, in conjunction with the state’s Practice Act, are the major determinants of whether a particular code is paid or not. There may also be differences depending on the practice setting.  In a physician owned or hospital based physical therapy practice, Computerized Dynamic Posturography and vestibular function testing, such as VNG, and VEMP, can be performed by the physical therapist acting as a technician, if ordered, interpreted and billed by a physician.  A physical therapist in an outpatient privately owned setting may not be able to order or bill for those tests with those codes.

 If physical therapists perform instrumented testing in their practices to aid in evaluating function, the Physical Performance Test or Measurement code, 97750, is a good alternative. An example would be performing a vHIT, which measures the function of the VOR.  This code cannot be used on the same day as Evaluation or Re-evaluation, and is a direct one-on-one code, of 15- minute increments.  A written report is also necessary when using this code.

Perhaps the future of the PT doctoring profession will include the ability to order appropriate vestibular diagnostic testing to effectively meet the needs of our vestibular patients. This will undoubtedly improve patient outcomes, contain escalating medical costs and enhance the efficacy of the vestibular therapist as a first-contact provider for the vestibular patient.

Reference

Bell, A., Evans, W.  Compliance Matters: Exploring and Expanding your CPT Code Inventory. PT in Motion.  2019.   Retrieved from APTA website , Oct. 26, 2019.

For more information on payment, visit our Payment Policy – Medicare G codes, BPPV CPT code tab

Vestibular CPG has been published!

The Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy of the APTA supports the development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPG) to assist physical therapists with the treatment of persons with peripheral vestibular hypofunction in order to optimize rehabilitation outcomes. The purpose of this CPG for peripheral vestibular hypofunction is to describe the evidence supporting vestibular physical therapy including interventions and discharge planning supported by current best evidence.

You can find the full document here.

Additional resources:

Description of Vestibular CPG

One page summary for physical therapists

One page summary for physicians

We need your help!!

2) Patient and Provider Fact Sheet Committee is looking for help to update information.

Please contact Anne Galgon for more information on these opportunities!!

Other Announcements

• The Patient Fact sheets have been updated!
• We have over 40 Podcasts! The podcasts are being produced through the blogtalkradio.com site.  Please checkout the new podcasts here. 
• The Interactive map is new and improved!
• Jeff Walter, PT, DPT * has provided us with a link to a page on his website, www.vestibularseminars.com, which has VIDEOS of exam techniques and other helpful resources.  Thanks, Jeff!  The link will also be on the resources page.

* The Physical therapist above is a Board Certified Neuro Clinical Specialist in Physical therapy.

Follow us on Facebook

    The Vestibular Rehab SIG has it's own Facebook page- "like" us now!         

Follow us on Twitter

    The Vestibular Rehab SIG has it's own Twitter page