IM-Home and Teletherapy FAQ

Over the past twenty years, the numerous studies that have been conducted, most notably by The Mayo Clinic and Kent State University, have shown that online therapy is on a par with on-site therapy. What’s more, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) independently have corroborated and endorsed those findings as well.  More information can be found here: https://www.americantelemed.org/resource/why-telemedicine/

We have compiled a list of Telehealth Guidelines for IM-Home to help get you started on your state’s current rules and regulation.

Under state emergency declarations, governors and state boards have begun to waive restrictions, on a temporary basis, on health providers licensed, registered, or certified in good standing in another state. We advise members to closely review relevant state emergency declarations, executive orders, and relevant guidance from State Boards of Medicine, Nursing, and other healthcare professions to ensure compliance. https://www.ncsbn.org/State_COVID-19_Response.pdf

We have compiled a list of Telehealth Guidelines for IM-Home to help get you started on your state’s current rules and regulation.

Online speech, physical, occupational and mental health therapy sessions are very similar to traditional therapy sessions with one major exception. Instead of sitting in the same room, clients and therapists interact via high-resolution, live video conferencing. During these sessions, the student and therapist can see, hear, and interact with one another in real time, using webcams, headsets, and a live, synchronous online environment. If you’ve ever used Skype on your computer or FaceTime on your iPhone, you’ve used a similar type of technology.

We have compiled a list of Telehealth Guidelines for IM-Home to help get you started on your state’s current rules and regulation.

IM-Home does not provide a virtual platform for Teletherapy sessions.  There are several third party HIPAA approved platforms on the market (such as Zoom, Theraplatform, Theralink, Doxy – etc.).

*HIPAA requirements have been relaxed in many states during the COVID-19 quarantine.  Check with your state and insurance HIPAA standards first before purchasing a separate platform to use during COVID-19.  It’s possible you may be able to use a non-HIPAA compliant platform such as FaceTime, Skype Instagram Messaging, etc. 

We have compiled a list of Telehealth Guidelines for IM-Home to help get you started on your state’s current rules and regulation.

The IM-Home eClinic is hosted on a secure server, where IM Providers have a unique login and password to access to login. The IM Provider the responsible for creating the clients account, which has the option to “de-identify” the clients account per HIPPA compliancy guidelines.

Providers who own and use the IMPro 9.1 are eligible to resell and implement the IM-Home.

We have compiled a list of Telehealth Guidelines for IM-Home to help get you started on your state’s current rules and regulation.

IM-Home certification is quick and easy!  Using the IM-Home technology to set up your client’s individual training is simple and convenient.  You can complete certification online or over the phone with one of the IM representatives or you can take the FREE OnDemand IM-Home Certification Course (worth 0.2 ASHA & AOTA CEUS).

We have compiled a list of Telehealth Guidelines for IM-Home to help get you started on your state’s current rules and regulation.

Each session looks different depending on the home environment, your client’s diagnosis, attention span, and caregiver availability.  It’s recommended that you integrate IM-Home sessions with what you’re already working on in therapy.  For example, for a child, you might want to start with some active, gross motor movements before moving to a 15-minute IM-Home session followed by some fine motor or speech exercises.  For an adult client, you may start with IM-Home and interweave speech, gross motor, or fine motor tasks between IM-Home exercises.

We have compiled a list of Telehealth Guidelines for IM-Home to help get you started on your state’s current rules and regulation.

Are you currently credentialed as a service provider for any of the insurance companies?                                     

IF NO… not credentialed

• • You may contact client’s insurance company and request authorization to provide services as out-of-network provider.
  • You may complete the paperwork/process to become a credentialed provider in the insurance network.
  • Your clients may enter into an agreement with you to self-pay for telehealth services.

IF YES… credentialed

• • Refer to your governing body & individual state regulations for telehealth services for your particular discipline
    • SLP: https://www.asha.org/advocacy/state/
    • OT/OTA: https://www.aota.org/Practice/Manage/telehealth.aspx
    • PT/PTA: http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/News/2020/3/16/TelehealthCOVID19/
  • If you are eligible to provide telehealth services, gather your client’s insurance information (Insurance Company, particular plan, contact information for service providers, your client’s insurance member information).
  • Contact your client’s insurance company/plan to seek authorization for telehealth services. NOTE: The IM Home device itself is not covered by insurance.  You are seeking authorization for coverage of your services only.  In most states, services must include face to face time using video platform like Skype, FaceTime, Zoom etc.  Services may also include parent/caregiver education as long as the client is in the home at the time of the virtual meeting.
  • CPT Codes – Coding for evaluation and treatment services is typically accomplished using the same CPT codes as you ordinarily use for therapies in the clinic setting, regardless of mode of delivery.
  • Modifiers related to telepractice—available through both the CPT coding system and the Health Care Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS)—are appended to CPT codes to indicate mode of service delivery. To append a modifier, place it in the “modifier” section of the claim, on the same line as the CPT code. Payers may also opt to use a place of service (POS) code to indicate services conducted via a telepractice system.

Modifier:  GT  (Telehealth service rendered via interactive audio and video telecommunications system)

POS Code: 02  Telehealth (The location where health services and health-related services are provided or received through a telecommunication system)

If a payer does not recognize POS 02 for telepractice, clinicians should report the POS that best reflects the location of the rendering provider, not the location of the patient. For example, if you provide services from your private practice or home office, consider using POS 11 for “office”. POS 11 describes a setting other than a hospital or other facility where a health care professional routinely provides evaluation and treatment services.

We have compiled a list of Telehealth Guidelines for IM-Home to help get you started on your state’s current rules and regulation.

As an IM Provider, you know the importance of repetition.  Your clients should aim for 5 IM Home training sessions per week with a minimum of 15 minutes per session over a period of approximately 3 months to achieve optimal results (based upon research).  

When setting up a self-pay model, take into consideration that some clients/families may appreciate the ability to purchase a 3-month duration up-front to get the most from IM Home if offered a discount to do so (i.e., 10% off). Others may prefer to pay in smaller monthly installments.

Your services & associated fees may include*:

• $200-500 INITIAL EVALUATION FEE (the amount may vary depending upon profession & assessments administered): This is a one-time charge for initial contact via video-conferencing with the client/caregiver for discipline-specific baseline case history & assessments that can be conducted via telehealth, Long Form Assessment & instruction to get started with IM Home.
• $400 CONSULTING FEE FOR 4 WEEKS OF IM HOME TRAINING (the amount may vary depending upon profession & time spent on these activities each week): This includes 30-minute weekly review of IM Home assessment and training data in the eClinic, including modifications to the training plan as indicated and eClinic messaging with client.  Also included is 30-minute weekly video-conferencing with the client/caregiver to provide feedback, answer questions, and encourage compliance.

If paying up front for a full 3 months, you may wish to provide a discounted price (i.e., 10% off). Using the example above, the total cost for a 3-month package would be $1400 – $1700. With a 10% discount, the client/family would pay $1260 – $1530.

*This example is provided as a guide. When setting up your self-pay model, please take into consideration customary charges for your profession, the clients you are serving & your geographic region. 

We have compiled a list of Telehealth Guidelines for IM-Home to help get you started on your state’s current rules and regulation.

Each HSA has different guidelines for what qualifies for purchase.  Your client will need to check with their HSA policy to determine if the policy will allow purchase of the IM-Home unit and you will likely need to provide a detailed assessment of why your client will benefit from the use of IM-Home (such as an initial evaluation, plan of care detailed home exercise program).  Most HSA accounts allow individual therapeutic sessions to be charged to the account; however, you will need to provide documentation and an itemized statement of charges for reimbursement.

We have compiled a list of Telehealth Guidelines for IM-Home to help get you started on your state’s current rules and regulation.

We do not offer specific advice or consultation for billing insurance or Medicare/Medicaid. We have compiled a list of Telehealth Guidelines for IM-Home to help get you started on your state’s current rules and regulation.

Yes!  The initial IM-Home unit includes one user license.  Each additional license is $99 for immediate family living in the same home.

Prices vary based on the quantity purchased. Discounts are offered for orders of 2 or mote. Contact your sales representative for details.

IM Providers can purchase resale units on the Provider login section of the IM website. Discounts are offered for orders of 2 or mote. Contact your sales representative for details.

Yes, Interactive Metronome will ship directly to your clients for a flat fee – costs vary depending on location. Contact your sales representative for a quote.