What must a physical therapist provide when a patient submits a claim to a healthcare program?

When a patient submits a claim to a healthcare program, the physical therapist is required to provide the national provider identifier (NPI) along with a written explanation. The national provider identifier is a unique identifier assigned to healthcare providers in the United States, which helps facilitate the processing of claims by uniquely identifying the provider of the services. Including the NPI ensures that the healthcare program can verify the credentials of the therapist and track billing accurately.

The written explanation serves to clarify the specifics of the treatment provided and justify the services rendered to the patient, which is essential for the claims review process. This combination ensures that the healthcare program has both the identity of the treating professional and the necessary context for the claim, allowing for a more efficient and accurate assessment of the claim’s validity.

Other options, such as only providing a written explanation or submitting a patient’s medical history, would not meet the specific requirements set out for claims submissions, as they do not include the necessary identification of the service provider. A letter of recommendation from another healthcare worker is also not relevant to the claims process and would not fulfill the requirements needed for claim submission.