Professional

And yet another question about ITPs!

Per AACVPR, an ITP needs to be done at least every 30 days for each patient. For whatever reason, when I started working at my current job the EPs here were not doing ITPs if a patient was on hold for a medical reason. It is my understanding that there is no reason why a patient would NOT have an ITP done, but wanted to confirm with you guys that this is correct. Please advise. Thank you!

If they are still enrolled in the program, they need to have an ITP completed every 30 days, regardless if they are on hold or not. And if they are, it should be a pretty easy and quick ITP anyway!

I agree with Sam. ITPs are required if the patient is enrolled, no matter what the reason for absence. At the top of the ITP, we write the words, "Not attending." Almost all is left blank except I might change the ExRx to say, "will evalutate on patient's return."

Peggy Kraus, CEP, CDCES

Cardiopulmonary Rehab

Stony Brook Southampton Hospital

240 Meeting House Lane

Southampton, NY 11968

631-726-8620 office

Great, thank you both!

Hi Megan

Just a point of clarification, it is CMS that requires ITPs be completed and signed by a physician every 30 calendar days, not AACVPR. The ITP is one of the conditions of coverage for CR/PR that is mandated by CMS, so if you don't have one for a patient that is enrolled in a CR/PR program CMS doesn't have to pay you for the services delivered during the time period when the ITP is missing. In essence, your facility is in breach of contract during that time.

Best practice is to continue to fill out ITPs when patients are absent until they run out of time to complete the program.