Athletic Trainers as Physician Extenders

1
Athletic Trainers as Physician Extenders

• By
• The CIC Committee
• OATA

2
ATCs in Physicians Offices

• Can help improve productivity
• Improve patient outcomes and satisfaction
• Significantly reduce re-injury rates through
  patient instruction
• Reduce recovery time from non-surgical injuries
• Rehabilitate musculoskeletal injuries

3
Increased Productivity

• By helping to see and treat more patients in same
  amount of time
• 1998 study showed ATs increased clinic production
  by 12 patients per day

4
Improved Satisfaction and Outcomes

• Patients like the personal care and attention
  ATCs provide
• Patients perceive a total care package when
  ATCs are working with the physicians

5
Reduced Injury Rates

• Numbers of re-injuries goes down with AT
  instruction and treatments
• AT can also speak to injury prevention with
  patients
• Many companies already reaping these benefits

6
Reduce Recovery Time

• Every company employing an ATC has had a
  significant decrease in the number of days lost
  by employees!
• Mainly due to immediate care for injuries by the
  ATC

7
Rehabilitate Injuries

• ATCs know the tricks of the trade to get people
  well fast!
• The ATCs Rehab skills make physicians look good!

8
Billing in Physician Offices

• If you are a salaried employee, then you perform
  duties in your job description for the physician
  and billing is done by the physician
• If the patient has Medicare/Medicaid, an ATC
  cannot perform services and bill for them until
  the law suit by the NATA is resolved for
  incident to services

9
Billing in Physician Office Continued

• If you receive a prescription from the physician
  for athletic training services, then you bill for
  the services you provide
• Use proper documentation at all times
• Use professional office personnel/billing
  specialists
• Bill electronically
• Always re-submit bills that were denied after
  reading the EOB (explanation of benefits)
• Use the CMS 1500 form (formerly known as the HCFA
  1500) if in private practice and the UB 92 form
  if you bill through a hospital

10
Physicians and ATCs Continue to Work Well Together