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256B.0653 HOME HEALTH AGENCY SERVICES.
    Subdivision 1. Covered services. (a) Homecare; skilled nurse visits. "Skilled nurse visits"
are provided in a recipient's residence under a plan of care or service plan that specifies a level of
care which the nurse is qualified to provide. These services are:
(1) nursing services according to the written plan of care or service plan and accepted
standards of medical and nursing practice in accordance with chapter 148;
(2) services which due to the recipient's medical condition may only be safely and effectively
provided by a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse;
(3) assessments performed only by a registered nurse; and
(4) teaching and training the recipient, the recipient's family, or other caregivers requiring the
skills of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
(b) Telehomecare; skilled nurse visits. Medical assistance covers skilled nurse visits
according to section 256B.0625, subdivision 6a, provided via telehomecare, for services which
do not require hands-on care between the home care nurse and recipient. The provision of
telehomecare must be made via live, two-way interactive audiovisual technology and may be
augmented by utilizing store-and-forward technologies. Store-and-forward technology includes
telehomecare services that do not occur in real time via synchronous transmissions, and that do
not require a face-to-face encounter with the recipient for all or any part of any such telehomecare
visit. Individually identifiable patient data obtained through real-time or store-and-forward
technology must be maintained as health records according to section 144.335. If the video is
used for research, training, or other purposes unrelated to the care of the patient, the identity of
the patient must be concealed. A communication between the home care nurse and recipient that
consists solely of a telephone conversation, facsimile, electronic mail, or a consultation between
two health care practitioners, is not to be considered a telehomecare visit. Multiple daily skilled
nurse visits provided via telehomecare are allowed. Coverage of telehomecare is limited to two
visits per day. All skilled nurse visits provided via telehomecare must be prior authorized by the
commissioner or the commissioner's designee and will be covered at the same allowable rate as
skilled nurse visits provided in-person.
(c) Therapies through home health agencies. (1) Physical therapy. Medical assistance
covers physical therapy and related services, including specialized maintenance therapy. Services
provided by a physical therapy assistant shall be reimbursed at the same rate as services
performed by a physical therapist when the services of the physical therapy assistant are provided
under the direction of a physical therapist who is on the premises. Services provided by a physical
therapy assistant that are provided under the direction of a physical therapist who is not on the
premises shall be reimbursed at 65 percent of the physical therapist rate. Direction of the physical
therapy assistant must be provided by the physical therapist as described in Minnesota Rules,
part 9505.0390, subpart 1, item B. The physical therapist and physical therapist assistant may not
both bill for services provided to a recipient on the same day.
(2) Occupational therapy. Medical assistance covers occupational therapy and related
services, including specialized maintenance therapy. Services provided by an occupational
therapy assistant shall be reimbursed at the same rate as services performed by an occupational
therapist when the services of the occupational therapy assistant are provided under the direction
of the occupational therapist who is on the premises. Services provided by an occupational
therapy assistant under the direction of an occupational therapist who is not on the premises shall
be reimbursed at 65 percent of the occupational therapist rate. Direction of the occupational
therapy assistant must be provided by the occupational therapist as described in Minnesota Rules,
part 9505.0390, subpart 1, item B. The occupational therapist and occupational therapist assistant
may not both bill for services provided to a recipient on the same day.
History: 1986 c 444; 1990 c 568 art 3 s 51; 1991 c 292 art 7 s 12,25; 1992 c 391 s 3-6;
1992 c 464 art 2 s 1; 1992 c 513 art 7 s 50; 1Sp1993 c 1 art 5 s 51-53; 1995 c 207 art 6 s 52-55;
1996 c 451 art 5 s 17-20; 1997 c 203 art 4 s 28,29; 3Sp1997 c 3 s 9; 1998 c 407 art 4 s 29-31;
1999 c 245 art 4 s 50-58; 2000 c 474 s 8-11; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 29-41; 2002 c 375 art 2 s 17;
2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2003 c 15 art 1 s 33; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 3 s 26-28; 2005 c 10 art 1 s
49,50; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 7 s 15-19

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes