| May, 2001 Health
Care Financing Administration
 Questions and Answers
Regarding Payment for the Services of Therapy Students Under Part
B of Medicare
This Program Memorandum (PM) is being issued in the form of
questions and answers to respond to numerous inquiries regarding
payment for the services of therapy students under Part B of the
Medicare program.
1. Q. Can services provided by a student be reimbursed under
Medicare Part B?
A. No, services performed by a student are not reimbursed under
Medicare Part B. Medicare pays for services of physicians and
practitioners authorized by statute. Students do not meet the
definition of practitioners listed in 1861 of the statute.
2. Q. Can a physical or occupational therapist assistant serve
as a clinical instructor (CI) for a physical therapist or
occupational therapy assistant student while providing services to
a Medicare patient that is within their scope of work, and
performed under the direction and supervision of the licensed
physical or occupational therapist?
A. Physical therapist assistants and occupational therapy
assistants are not precluded from serving as CIs for therapy
students while providing services within their scope of work,
and performed under the direction and
supervision of a licensed physical or occupational therapist to a
Medicare beneficiary.
3. Q. Can services provided by a student with the supervising
therapist "in the room" be reimbursed?
A. Only the services of the therapist can be billed to Medicare
and paid. However, the fact that the student is "in the
room" would not make the service un-billable. Medicare would
pay for the services of the therapist.
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