From The Deep End · ATU Blog

Ask Andrea: Renting a community pool for aquatic therapy

Starting an aquatic therapy program in a hotel pool? Links to the rules on closing versus roping off the pool, therapist presence and Medicare billing.

By Andrea Salzman, MS, PT2 min read

  • Q&A
  • Pools
  • Legal
  • Billing
First published March 13, 2024 on atuseminars.com

Renting a community or hotel pool raises practical questions fast. This short Ask Andrea post points to the resources I'd check first.

Want to go deeper? Explore Private Training options for your facility →

A woman ticks boxes on a checklist.
Check pool rules and billing requirements before your first session in a rented pool.

Question: Our facilities are initiating an aquatic program in a hotel pool.  We would appreciate guidance toward the most updated rules and regulations, specifically re: the pool being closed to the public v. a section being roped off.

Answer: Look through these links to find rules and resources for updated guidelines!

Does Medicare Require the Therapist to be in the Pool?

Medicare Billing and Coding Regulations (search the Medicare Coverage Database; the article once linked here has been archived)

What the research says

  • Hotel pools need a closer look. In 2008 inspection data, 15.3% of hotel and motel pool inspections ended in immediate closure, second only to child-care pools (17.2%).1
  • Outbreak risk. Hotels were the leading setting for outbreaks linked to treated recreational water in 2000 to 2014 (157 of 493).2
  • Closed or roped off? We found no study comparing a closed pool with a roped-off section during therapy. That decision rests on your local pool code and your facility’s risk policy [Expert opinion].

Frequently asked questions

Does a hotel pool have to close to the public for aquatic therapy?

No single national rule says so. Check your state or local pool code and your facility’s policy [Expert opinion].

Are hotel pools safe for aquatic therapy?

They can be, but check first: in 2008 inspection data, 15.3% of hotel and motel pool inspections ended in immediate closure (CDC, 2010).

References

Research cited in this post

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Violations identified from routine swimming pool inspections--selected states and counties, United States, 2008. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2010;59(19):582-7. PubMed: 20489681.
  2. Hlavsa MC, Cikesh BL, Roberts VA, et al. Outbreaks Associated with Treated Recreational Water - United States, 2000-2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(19):547-551. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6719a3. PubMed: 29771872.

How to cite this article

First published March 13, 2024 on atuseminars.com · Last updated October 19, 2026 · Permanent URL: https://www.aquatictherapyuniversity.com/blog/ask-andrea-renting-a-community-pool-for-aquatic-therapy

How to cite

Salzman, A. (2024, March 13). Ask Andrea: Renting a community pool for aquatic therapy. Aquatic Therapy University Blog. ATU Educational Services, LLC. https://www.aquatictherapyuniversity.com/blog/ask-andrea-renting-a-community-pool-for-aquatic-therapy

Permissions: You may quote and cite this article with attribution. Reproducing or adapting the full article requires written permission from ATU Educational Services, LLC.

For education only; not a substitute for individual clinical judgment.