Documentation and Reimbursement for Speech-Language Pathologists

Although it is the least noticed by patients, effective documentation is one of the most critical skills that speech-language pathologists must learn. Although it is the least noticed by patients, effective documentation is one of the most critical skills that speech-language pathologists must learn. With that in mind, Documentation and Reimbursement for Speech-Language Pathologists: Principles and Practiceprovides a comprehensive guide to documentation, coding, and reimbursement across all work settings. The text begins with section 1 covering the importance of documentation and the basic rules, both ethical and legal, followed by an exploration of the various documentation forms and formats. Also included are tips on how to use electronic health records, as well as different coding systems for diagnosis and for procedures, with an emphasis on the link between coding, reimbursement, and the documentation to support reimbursement. Section 2 explains the importance of focusing on function in patient-centered care with the ICF as the conceptual model, then goes on to cover each of the types of services speech-language pathologists provide: evaluation, treatment planning, therapy, and discharge planning. Multiple examples of forms and formats are given for each. In section 3, Nancy Swigert and her expert team of contributors dedicate each chapter to a work setting in which speech-language pathologists might work, whether adult or pediatric, because each setting has its own set of documentation and reimbursement challenges. And since client documentation is not the only kind of writing done by speech-language pathologists, a separate chapter on “other professional writing” includes information on how to write correspondence, avoid common mistakes, and even prepare effective…