Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (CORF)

Important Information for Medicaid Providers: Please read carefully

CERTIFICATION: CORF is a certified only program.
LICENSURE: There is no State Licensure requirement for CORFs. They are certified only providers and do not require a license to provide CORF services in Louisiana.

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A Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (CORF) is established and operated exclusively for the purpose of providing diagnostic, therapeutic, and restorative services to outpatients for the rehabilitation of injured, disabled, or sick persons, at a single fixed location, by or under the supervision of a physician and must meet all the requirements of Subpart B—Conditions of Participation: Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. With the exception of financial management contracts, the responsibility for overall administration, management, and operation must be exercised by the CORF itself and not delegated to others.

Services

• Consultation with and medical supervision of non-physician staff, establishment and review of the plan of treatment and other medical and facility administration activities;
• Physical therapy services, social or psychological services; and
• CORFs are surveyed for compliance with Federal requirements every six years at a minimum.

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Scope and Site of Services

With the exception of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services, all CORF services must be provided on the CORF premises. However, one visit to the patient’s home is allowed to evaluate the home environment in relation to the patient’s established treatment plan. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology services may be provided off the CORF premises (including a patient’s home). The CORF is responsible for the implementation and supervision of any therapy services that are provided at an off-site location. All appropriate Conditions of Participation apply to the services provided at off-site locations.

A CORF may be reimbursed for optional CORF services if they are part of a comprehensive, coordinated, skilled rehabilitation program. (Optional CORF services are: Occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, respiratory therapy, prosthetic and orthotic devices, nursing, drugs and biologicals, DME and a single home visit.)

CORF’S Relationship with Other Providers or Suppliers

A CORF may be owned by, or affiliated with, a legal entity operating as another type of Medicare provider. The requirement for functional and operational independence does not require separate incorporation. Coordination between such entities in relation to personnel, equipment, and facilities is permissible if it is undertaken in accordance with §2364. The requirement for functional and operational independence is to assure that any entity seeking approval as a CORF meets the requirements for such approval and that the costs of different Medicare providers are clearly identified, segregated, and attributed to the proper provider.

When certifying a CORF, it is important to understand the relationship of space, equipment, and employees shared with other providers and suppliers

Shared Space with Another Provider or Supplier

A CORF may be established on the premises of another health entity even though the other entity is currently approved under Medicare as a provider or supplier of services. The CORF must be functionally and operationally independent from the SNF (see §2360).

A CORF may not share a common space with the other entity unless the CORF is able to fully function without interruption during its scheduled hours of operation. Use of the CORF space by another, or host entity, during CORF hours of operation is not allowed.

For example, one room in a suite used by an OPT/OSP provider and owned by the OPT/OSP provider or another party may function as a CORF location. However, although the CORF is located on the premises of the OPT/OSP provider, this space is not to be used for OPT/OSP purposes during the operating hours of the CORF. The CORF must make provisions to secure medical records from unauthorized use.

Sharing of Equipment

Equipment may be shared in the same manner as space. All common equipment must be available on the premises of the CORF during hours of operation and not used at the same time by the other entity for any purpose.

A CORF need not own all of the equipment required for implementing a plan of treatment, but it must demonstrate that all required equipment can be readily procured when needed and be available in the facility when providing treatment services to the patients.

Regulations

• Federal Regulations
• SOM Appendix K 

Certification

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Helpful Links

• Criminal Background Check Information
• Emergency Preparedness
• Provider Directory, when applicable
• CMS 359 - CORF Report for Certification/Participation in the Medicare Program link to form:  click here
• Form CMS-1561 Health Insurance Benefit Agreement (submit 2 forms each with original signatures, sign in the 3rd section as the successor if accepting the provider agreement): click here
• Fiscal Intermediary Preference/Fiscal year-end date: Form HSS-ALL-21: click here
• Federal Conditions of Participation Specialized Providers. Link below:click here
• HSS-1513L - Disclosure of Ownership and Control Interest Statement:click here
• Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Forms Memo – Link to OCR Portal: click here
• Link to CMS Forms: click here