Providing Better Outcomes for TKA and THA Patients While Helping Orthopedic Surgeons Control Costs
During an illness or a course of treatment, Medicare in the past made separate payments to providers for each service. In order to address the drawbacks of this fragmented care, Medicare’s Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative links payments for the multiple services received by Medicare patients during a period of care. Under the program, healthcare organizations (HCOs) enter into payment arrangements that include financial and performance accountability with the intention of providing higher quality care at a lower cost.
Medicare is currently paying certain orthopedic surgeon groups and most hospitals a bundled payment for their total knee (TKA) and total hip (THA) replacement patients.
These groups and hospitals are increasingly motivated to control costs since they are responsible for all medical costs from surgery to 90 days of post-op care. Should they spend too much, they will owe money back to Medicare. But if they control costs, they could be eligible for a Medicare refund.
How can this provide better patient outcomes while reducing costs? CORA Physical Therapy has the answer.
CORA’s Home Therapy Program Cuts Costs, Boosts Patient Outcomes
Through our new program, licensed physical therapists provide home therapy for Medicare patients who have undergone total knee and total hip replacements. Home Therapy, which is provided by CORA for Medicare patients in Florida and all patients in Georgia, is a proven way to save money as well as deliver superior patient outcomes:
- In fact, our home care fees mirror those at our clinics and are typically much lower than traditional home health agency costs.
- Our home therapy is only provided to patients who don’t require nursing care, although our therapists are trained in wound care and staple removal.
If an orthopedic group provides its own therapy, we can transfer their patients to their clinic within an average of four visits. As a partner, CORA can also provide the outpatient therapy for patients in outlying areas in our nearby clinics.
Producing Results for Florida Doctors and Patients
The benefits of Home Therapy have been immeasurable for both referrers and patients during the first few months of the program. Patients typically spend less time in home therapy programs with an average of four home visits per patient before they are transferred to outpatient services where more equipment is available to continue their rehab.
What this means at CORA is continuity of care. The documentation operates on the same system and patients often see the same therapist in the clinic when the patient is ready for outpatient services. This ultimately leads to better communication and improved outcomes.
Improved outcomes AND lower cost? Home Therapy leads to a lower cost of treatment because the rates are the same as outpatient services. The result is thousands of dollars saved for doctors and patients alike. These savings help offset other costs, such as hospital readmission plus more for our patients and our partners.
Perhaps most importantly, Home Therapy visits occur within 24-48 hours after discharge from the hospital. Studies show that this early initiation of rehabilitation oftentimes leads to a shorter length of stay which results in a lower overall cost. Once patients can ambulate safely, travel in a car, and have reliable transportation, they are then able to continue therapy at a nearby CORA Physical Therapy clinic.
About CORA Physical Therapy
Medicare bundled payments are in place across the nation and are eventually coming to all orthopedic surgeons and hospitals. Why not change your practice patterns now and progress your patients more quickly and deliver better outcomes? In addition to the home therapy program, we also offer a full range of cutting-edge services to clients through an ever-expanding network of more than 150 clinics located across Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Learn more about why physicians are choosing CORA Physical Therapy as their partner, or contact us to get your patients back on their feet quickly and safely.
