Gawenda Seminars & Consulting, Inc.

05/19/2026

To treat Medicare beneficiaries for outpatient therapy services that are covered by the Medicare program, you must enroll in Medicare. When you enroll, you have 2 options to choose from. You can enroll as a participating provider or as a nonparticipating provider.

Learn more here:
https://gawendaseminars.com/enrolling-in-medicare-what-are-my-options/

05/18/2026

Most denials don't start where you think they do.

I've partnered with Stride EMR because I believe in what they're doing and it directly addresses one of the most overlooked problems in outpatient therapy practices. Bad data at intake flows downstream, and by the time an insurance company rejects a claim, the damage is already done.

Stride's native AI automates the intake process from the start.. reading insurance cards, verifying with the payer, and loading therapy-specific benefits before the visit ever happens.

If you're a member or follower of Gawenda Seminars and Consulting and you schedule a demo and sign a contract by June 30th, Stride will give you one month free.

Click the link below to schedule your demo and learn more.
https://strideemr.ai/gawenda/

05/15/2026

Have no fear. Mr. Compliance is here!

05/14/2026

AI is making big strides in outpatient therapy, particularly with EMR solutions and documentation support. But when it comes to billing, coding, and compliance questions, AI is not a reliable source.

AI is becoming a more common resource for therapists and assistants looking for quick answers on billing, coding, and compliance. And while I understand the appeal, there's something important to consider. How do you know the answer you're getting is actually correct and up to date? Rules and regulations for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers change frequently. AI doesn't always keep up with that, and acting on outdated or inaccurate information can have real consequences for your practice.

That's exactly why Gawenda Seminars and Consulting exists. My website is updated consistently with the latest information across more than 30 topics pertaining to outpatient therapy services. Whether you want to verify something AI told you or skip the guesswork altogether, the answers are there for you.

If staying current on the rules that govern your practice matters to you, I'd love for you to check out what a membership has to offer.

https://gawendaseminars.com/subscription/

05/13/2026

There's a common misconception in our industry that everything a therapist does automatically makes therapy skilled. It doesn't.

What insurers actually want to see in your documentation might not be what you think and the distinction could make or break your next audit.

Have questions about your documentation? Reach out to me at 661-645-1490 or visit www.GawendaSeminars.com

05/12/2026

"Does Medicare require therapists to color code their schedule?"

It's a question I received last month, and while my first instinct told me I knew exactly why someone was asking, the real reasons behind it surprised me. This week's member article breaks it all down.

If you're not yet a member, visit my website to learn more about joining and getting access to exclusive content like this every week.

For members, click below:
https://gawendaseminars.com/must-i-color-code-my-patient-schedule/

05/11/2026

This Wednesday, I'm hosting a live online course you don't want to miss.

Building Compliance Programs That Don't Sit on a Shelf.

All healthcare practices are required to have a compliance program. But having one and having one that actually works are two very different things. In this 90-minute session, I'll walk through the 7 elements defined by the OIG and give you practical tools for building a compliance program that is functional, reasonable, and tailored to the size of your practice.

Wednesday, May 13th at 10am PST

Can't make it live? No problem. A playback option is available so you can watch on your own time.

Register below
https://gawendaseminars.com/events/2026-compliance-programs/

05/11/2026

Don't miss our next webinar: Your First Look at the 2027 New Speech Therapy CPT Codes

Learn about the CPT codes commonly used by speech-language pathologists and how to bill correctly to Medicare and commercial payers..

05/08/2026

35 years as a physical therapist. 24 years helping practices navigate the business side of therapy. Still loving every bit of it.

05/07/2026

Audit anxiety is real but the answer isn't avoiding insurance carriers altogether. It's knowing how to document correctly from day one.

Once you're enrolled in Medicare or contracted with an insurance carrier, they have the right to request your records at any time to verify medical necessity, skilled therapy, and correct billing. The best protection you can have is documentation that holds up every time.

I offer a range of resources to help from website membership and webinars to one-on-one consulting for documentation reviews, audits, denials, and appeals.

If your practice could use some support in this area, I'd love to connect.

05/06/2026

Keeping your entire therapy staff up to date on documentation, CPT coding, billing and compliance is one of the most challenging responsibilities a practice owner or administrator faces.

That's exactly where Gawenda Seminars and Consulting can help

I offer custom on-site seminars tailored specifically for outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy settings covering documentation, CPT coding, billing, NCCI edits, and more. CEUs are also available for PT, OT, and SLP professionals.

If you've been looking for a way to get your team aligned and confident in these areas, let's talk. You can reach out to me directly at 661-645-1490.