Final answer:
The statement is false; physical therapists contracted with a skilled nursing facility typically do not bill Medicare directly. The facility bills Medicare via consolidated billing for all services, including those by physical therapists, and then pays these therapists based on their contracts.The right answer is False
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is false. In a skilled nursing facility (SNF), contracted providers like physical therapists typically do not bill Medicare directly. Instead, the services provided by the therapists are usually covered under the SNF's consolidated billing. The SNF is responsible for billing Medicare for the total cost of care, which includes the services rendered by the contracted physical therapists. The SNF then pays the physical therapists based on their contractual arrangements.
This practice of consolidated billing is designed to simplify the billing process and prevent Medicare from being billed multiple times for services provided during the resident's stay in the facility. It applies to most of the services offered within the SNF, with a few specific exceptions that can still be billed directly by outside providers.