Frequently Asked Questions
How does your therapy differ from other therapy practices?
Sari Lewis spends up to one full hour with patients at each visit, primarily providing hands-on techniques, including craniosacral therapy and other gentle manual therapies. She initially performs a complete postural evaluation and continues to work with you to realign your body, release restrictions, stretch your fascia and restore balance to the fluids surrounding your brain and spinal cord. Sari can also work with you to establish or update an exercise program, as well as looking at all areas of daily activities to improve efficiency. She believes that we all have internal wisdom to heal, and facilitates this healing and improved quality of life through her sessions with you.What is craniosacral therapy?
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, non-invasive method of treatment that focuses on the rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid produced in the brain, and flowing around the head and spinal cord. Restrictions that inhibit the flow of this fluid can cause patients to feel poorly. By monitoring and encouraging the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid, the body is encouraged to heal. See the definitions page for more information.How do patients get a referral to an OT?
How do they approach their doctor to get one and what does it need to say on the Rx in order to get insurance to cover care?Patients can self-refer for Occupational Therapy, but may need a prescription for insurance coverage. This varies based on the insurance carrier. If a patient says that they have heard that Occupational Therapy services might be helpful in the management of symptoms and options to improve function in Activities of Daily Living (ADL's), most doctors would be open. Generally, the prescription can read: 'Occupational Therapy to Evaluate and Treat '. Patients insured by Medicare are required to see their doctor every 30 days while under care for an updated prescription. In addition, the physicians must sign off on the plan of care every 30 days. Some insurance companies require more specific information about frequency and duration of care. As a licensed and registered Occupational Therapist, I can use specialized techniques including craniosacral therapy, which are billable under the manual therapy and neuro-muscular re-education codes.
How does the insurance issue factor into the care and do most insurance companies cover OT? Do you know what insurance companies cover for the most part with OT? Does Medicare cover your services?
Most insurance companies cover Occupational Therapy, provided that it is medically necessary, and not at a maintenance level of care. I have found that reimbursement for OT is on par with PT services. Medicare covers medically necessary care with the appropriate prescriptions and Plans of Care. For Medicare, each treatment code must match an accepted diagnosis code. After years of working with the Medicare and Insurance-based systems, I generally see excellent reimbursement for the therapy services I provide.
How many visits does the average FMS (Fibromyalgia Syndrome) patient require for achieving the goals of treatment (increasing functional activities, pain management, fatigue management, relaxation, patient education, encouraging coping skills)?
This varies greatly. For more traditional OT, instruction in joint protection, energy conservation, work simplification, body mechanics and home modifications, as well as helpful equipment, 1-3 visits would generally suffice.
Since Craniosacral Therapy is based on establishing a safe environment for healing, patients might feel comfortable at different rates. I recommend 6-12 visits to determine the overall effectiveness of the treatments. Frequent re-evaluations are helpful in creating realistic and achievable goals in therapy.