Medicare Denied Your Rehabilitation / PT / OT?
Published data shows denial and appeal outcomes vary by plan, product year, denial reason, and documentation. Use this page to spot the issues to request and the evidence to gather before you decide what to submit.This template provides issues to verify, not insurer-specific outcome or deadline predictions. Your denial notice, current plan document, claim status, and governing program control.
Deadlines and review routes depend on plan type, urgent or standard status, whether care has already occurred, jurisdiction, and review level. Use the dates and instructions in the denial notice and current plan documents.
Why they said no
Common reasons Rehabilitation / PT / OT claims are denied
Maximum therapy visits reached for the year
Not making sufficient progress toward goals
Treatment deemed maintenance rather than restorative
Medicare checks
Issues to check in the Medicare notice
Denying claims as not reasonable and necessary
Coverage determinations based on LCD/NCD criteria
Denying skilled nursing facility stays as custodial care
What works
How to Strengthen Your Rehabilitation / PT / OT Appeal
Therapist documentation of measurable functional improvement
Updated treatment plan with specific, measurable goals
Physician letter explaining medical necessity of continued therapy
Rules to verify
Rights and coverage rules that may apply
The plan’s rehabilitation or habilitation benefit — visit limits, settings, and authorization requirements remain plan-specific
Jimmo settlement principles — for Medicare, improvement potential cannot be the sole test for otherwise-covered skilled care
ACA or state mandates — apply only to specified services and regulated plan types; verify the actual plan document
Playbook
Tips for Appealing to Medicare
Medicare has a 5-level appeal process with different evidence and deadline rules at each level
Request an ALJ hearing if redetermination and reconsideration fail
Cite specific LCD/NCD criteria and explain how your case meets them
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Related denial guides
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Rehabilitation / PT / OT denials by other insurers
This information is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or medical advice. This page cites no statistics; it lists issues to verify against your own denial notice, plan documents, and the governing rules. Individual results vary. Consult a qualified professional before taking action on your specific situation.