The Timeline
(Scroll down for details)
Step by Step, In Detail
1) Evaluation, Research & Design: 2 Days to 2 Weeks
Evaluation: Once we have a prescription from the physician, and a signed Assignment of Benefits form, a certified Rehab Technology Specialist (RTS) thoroughly evaluates the client. The RTS takes careful measurements, evaluates elements like symmetry and spasticity, considers work, home, and school environments, and for pediatric patients, growth and development issues.
Funding Research: Our professional staff researches each client’s particular funding environment and determines what appropriate technology or equipment we can provide. If patients are paying out of pocket, we take a cost/benefit approach to make sure the client gets the right products at the best possible price. If the client has coverage from a private insurance company, Medicaid, or Medicare, we operate within the payer’s guidelines to provide the best possible rehab solution.
Technology Design: Once the RTS understands the client's needs, environment, and funding realities, they begin to design the appropriate solution. The RTS researches the right mobility device, seating system, home modification or medical device. We order products from hundreds of different suppliers. Sometimes a power chair and seating system may come from as many as a dozen different manufacturers. Often the RTS must themselves modify or fabricate parts to achieve the right result.
2) Getting Authorization From the Funding Source: 3 - 16 Weeks
Once the product is designed can begin the most time-consuming step: getting approval from the funding source to go ahead. We collect a number of documents from several sources: for instance prescription and written justification from the physician, pricing and documentation from each manufacturer, sometimes a justification from the therapist as well. We carefully complete a large number of forms for your insurance source. We painstakingly document and justify each component, its need, use, and price. Once we’ve submitted all of these forms, it generally takes a month—but sometimes longer-- to receive authorization to proceed. We follow up constantly on the approval process in order to speed the transaction.
3) Purchasing the Components: 3 - 6 Weeks
Once we have authorization from the funding source, we purchase the components necessary. Sometimes multiple components come from multiple manufacturers. Sometimes parts must be custom fabricated. Generally it takes 3-4 weeks to receive all the components.
4) Assembling and Modifying the System: 1 - 2 Weeks
One the parts are all in, we assemble the system. A simple system may take a day or two. An especially complex system may take a week or longer.
5) Delivery, Adjustments, Training: 1 - 3 Days
Once the equipment is ready, we deliver it to the client, modify it if necessary to work in the client’s environment/s or adjust the fit, and train everyone involved in the equipment’s maintenance and use.
Evaluation: Once we have a prescription from the physician, and a signed Assignment of Benefits form, a certified Rehab Technology Specialist (RTS) thoroughly evaluates the client. The RTS takes careful measurements, evaluates elements like symmetry and spasticity, considers work, home, and school environments, and for pediatric patients, growth and development issues.
Funding Research: Our professional staff researches each client’s particular funding environment and determines what appropriate technology or equipment we can provide. If patients are paying out of pocket, we take a cost/benefit approach to make sure the client gets the right products at the best possible price. If the client has coverage from a private insurance company, Medicaid, or Medicare, we operate within the payer’s guidelines to provide the best possible rehab solution.
Technology Design: Once the RTS understands the client's needs, environment, and funding realities, they begin to design the appropriate solution. The RTS researches the right mobility device, seating system, home modification or medical device. We order products from hundreds of different suppliers. Sometimes a power chair and seating system may come from as many as a dozen different manufacturers. Often the RTS must themselves modify or fabricate parts to achieve the right result.
2) Getting Authorization From the Funding Source: 3 - 16 Weeks
Once the product is designed can begin the most time-consuming step: getting approval from the funding source to go ahead. We collect a number of documents from several sources: for instance prescription and written justification from the physician, pricing and documentation from each manufacturer, sometimes a justification from the therapist as well. We carefully complete a large number of forms for your insurance source. We painstakingly document and justify each component, its need, use, and price. Once we’ve submitted all of these forms, it generally takes a month—but sometimes longer-- to receive authorization to proceed. We follow up constantly on the approval process in order to speed the transaction.
3) Purchasing the Components: 3 - 6 Weeks
Once we have authorization from the funding source, we purchase the components necessary. Sometimes multiple components come from multiple manufacturers. Sometimes parts must be custom fabricated. Generally it takes 3-4 weeks to receive all the components.
4) Assembling and Modifying the System: 1 - 2 Weeks
One the parts are all in, we assemble the system. A simple system may take a day or two. An especially complex system may take a week or longer.
5) Delivery, Adjustments, Training: 1 - 3 Days
Once the equipment is ready, we deliver it to the client, modify it if necessary to work in the client’s environment/s or adjust the fit, and train everyone involved in the equipment’s maintenance and use.