Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (Pub. 100-02), Ch. 7 § 30.4
Needs Skilled Nursing Care on an Intermittent Basis (Other than
30.4 - Needs Skilled Nursing Care on an Intermittent Basis (Other than
Solely Venipuncture for the Purposes of Obtaining a Blood Sample),
Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology Services, or Has
Continued Need for Occupational Therapy
(Rev. 10438, Issued: 11-06-20, Effective: 03-01-20, Implementation: 01- 11-21)
The patient must need one of the following types of services:
1. Skilled nursing care that is
• Reasonable and necessary as defined in §40.1;
• Needed on an "intermittent" basis as defined in §40.1.3; and
• Not solely needed for venipuncture for the purposes of obtaining blood
sample as defined in §40.1.2.13;or
2. Physical therapy as defined in §40.2.2; or
3. Speech-language pathology services as defined in §40.2.3; or
4. Have a continuing need for occupational therapy as defined in §§40.2.4.
The patient has a continued need for occupational therapy when:
1. The services which the patient requires meet the definition of "occupational
therapy" services of §40.2.4, and
2. The patient's eligibility for home health services has been established by virtue of
a prior need for skilled nursing care (other than solely venipuncture for the
purposes of obtaining a blood sample), speech-language pathology services, or
physical therapy in the current or prior certification period.
EXAMPLE: A patient who is recovering from a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) has an
initial plan of care that called for physical therapy, speech-language pathology services,
occupational therapy, and home health aide services. In the next certification period, the
physician or allowed practitioner orders only occupational therapy and home health aide
services because the patient no longer needs the skills of a physical therapist or a speech-
language pathologist, but needs the services provided by the occupational therapist. The
patient's need for occupational therapy qualifies him for home health services, including
home health aide services (presuming that all other qualifying criteria are met), because
in the prior certification period the beneficiary’s eligibility for home health services was
established by virtue of prior needs for physical therapy and speech-language pathology,
and occupational therapy was initiated while the patient still required physical therapy
and/or speech language-pathology.