FEES for Administrators
We are in an age of value-based and evidence-based medicine and soon to come, value-based reimbursement, so you need to stay in front of your patients care more than ever before. Hospitalizations and re-hospitalizations don’t do anything to help promote value to the bottom line, especially if they are preventable.
Myth 1: “A swallow study isn’t really that important.”
Anatomical and pathophysiological deficits need to be seen in order to make appropriate dietary recommendations, which is why Speech-Language Pathologists must rely on diagnostic imaging. Research has shown that traditional bedside swallowing exams have an error rate of up to 70%. Recommendations are either too restrictive, lead to dehydration/malnutrition, or are unable to detect silent aspiration that can lead to pneumonia.
These five conditions account for 78% of all 30-day SNF re-hospitalizations and have all been deemed as potentially preventable:
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Upper Respiratory Infections (URI)
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
Sepsis
Electrolyte Imbalance
A mobile FEES procedure has been found to help prevent all of these conditions.
How does FEES help to prevent these conditions?
CHF can be reduced by adherence to any fluid or dietary restrictions. URIs may be reduced by following appropriate positioning of residents with swallowing problems to avoid aspiration that could lead to pneumonia. UTIs, sepsis, and electrolyte imbalance can all result from dehydration or poor nutrition which may be prevented with careful monitoring of patient fluid and nutrient intake.
Myth 2: “The cost of FEES is comparable to a MBSS.”
Mobile FEES is done for a fraction of the cost of an MBSS, is equally a gold standard, and can be done in the facility. You can spend upwards of $1600 for an MBSS in addition to transportation and personnel costs if sending them out for the test. That is a lot of time and money wasted when you can utilize a more cost-effective approach with FEES.
FEES can give a real time high definition image of the swallow so you can have confidence in knowing your SLP now has an objective measure to give accurate recommendations, educate the nurses, and discuss the reasoning behind the recommendations with the patient and their family. A recent study found that SNF’s that have access to mobile FEES show a significant increase in instrumental assessments and subsequently, a significant reduction in pneumonia rates in the same group. We call bringing value-based and evidence-based medicine to your facility!
Additional Cost Savings Include:
- Treating SLP can bill CPT 92526 on the same day as the FEES instrumental assessment (This code CANNOT be billed on the same day as a MBSS).
- The facility can bill CPT 92612 for the FEES evaluation
Myth 3: “I have to sign a contract.”
No contracts. In fact, per CMS regulations, exclusive contracts for diagnostic procedures are illegal. We provide a pricing agreement including necessary liability insurance and indemnification of legal jargon. Our process is simple: Call us and we’ll be there within 1-2 days. We will leave an invoice with your billing office manager that day or can email billing directly.
Myth 4: “There are hidden costs.”
We charge an all-inclusive, one-time rate that is well below the national average and is a fraction of the cost of an MBSS. Unlike other companies, we do not charge mileage, regardless of the distance.
Myth 5: “I’ll need multiple patients before you’ll come out to test.”
We come out for just one patient. There’s no need to make your patient wait weeks while you try and drum up 3 or 4 more patients. We understand that the longer you wait to get the swallow study, the greater the risk of your patient acquiring a Potentially Preventable Hospitalization (PPH).