Medicare Managed Care Manual (Pub. 100-16), Ch. 18b § 130
Physical and Other Therapy Services Furnished Under
130 - Physical and Other Therapy Services Furnished Under
Arrangements
(Rev. 30, 09-05-03)
The reasonable cost of physical, occupational, speech, and other therapeutic services, or
services of other health-related specialists (except physicians) performed by outside
suppliers for providers of services, clinics, rehabilitation agencies, public health agencies,
or Medicare HCPPs may not exceed the sum of:
• Amounts equivalent to the salary and other costs that would have been incurred
by the provider or other entity if the services had been performed in an
employment relationship; and
• An allowance to compensate for other costs an individual not working as an
employee might incur in furnishing services under arrangements.
However, this reasonable cost may be determined on the basis of a reasonable rate per
unit of service:
• When the services of a therapist or other health-related specialist are required only
on a limited part-time basis or only intermittently; and
• When aggregate reimbursement on this per unit of service basis is less than what
the provider would have paid a salaried employee therapist or other health-related
specialist on a full-time or regular part-time basis. (See 42 CFR 413.106.)
In no case, though, may reasonable cost exceed the amount actually paid the outside
supplier for services rendered.
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For a detailed discussion of reasonable cost, see Chapter 14 of the Provider
Reimbursement Manual (Pub. 15), Part I.