SO WHAT IS A
MEDICARE OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION FACILITY?

Since 1997, PT Northwest has been one of the few Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (ORF) under Medicare in Oregon. An ORF is different from the Medicare Physical Therapist in Independent Practice (IP) which is prevalent throughout the state. So what is different about an ORF? In short, an ORF is held to a much higher standard of care under Medicare compared to an IP. This higher standard applies to all patients, not just Medicare patients.

An ORF goes through an extensive initial on-site survey process from Medicare. An IP is only required to submit paperwork to Medicare. An ORF offers more than one rehab discipline to provide a more holistic approach to care. An IP does not. PT Northwest offers all three rehab disciplines (Physical, Speech, and Occupational Therapy).

An ORF must comply with an exhaustive list of requirements. A small sampling of those requirements are below:

• Annual review of all patient care policies and procedures by a physician
• Annual review by an outside company of all therapy equipment
• Annual review of all clinic locations for accessibility issues by a physically disabled individual
• Annual review of all infection control and aseptic techniques
• Annual review and training for handling medical emergencies and natural disasters, such as fire, earthquake, and explosions.
• Quarterly quality assurance review of a random sample of active and discharged patients
• Annual statistical evaluation of admissions and discharges into the ORF

Medicare insures compliance with these ORF requirements through their periodic on-site surveys. There are no on-site surveys for an IP.

So, why don’t more rehab providers seek ORF accreditation? Many simply don’t want to comply with the higher standard.

At PT Northwest, our vision is to be the foremost progressive, comprehensive physical rehabilitation group in the Pacific Northwest. Being an ORF is right in line with that vision.