Documentation & Billing for Aquatic Therapy Practice

Available LIVE 12/11/26 (12:00-2:00 PM ET), then on demand | 3.0 contact hrs | Live webinar + distance learning module.

Description: This course provides a concise, practical guide to creating defensible, compliant documentation for aquatic therapy services. Content focuses on articulating medical necessity, justifying skilled intervention, and accurately capturing treatment intensity using aquatic-specific billing and coding standards.

Participants will examine common payer requirements, documentation red flags that contribute to denials, and strategies for linking aquatic interventions to measurable functional outcomes. Emphasis is placed on clinical reasoning, appropriate language selection, and documentation practices that support reimbursement success while strengthening the defensibility of aquatic therapy notes within skilled rehabilitation practice.

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Format & Delivery

Format: Available LIVE 12/11/26 (12:00-2:00 PM ET), then on demand.
Live Webinar (2 hours) with Distance Learning Module (1 hour)
Total contact hours: 3.0 hours

Learning Objectives

Identify essential elements of defensible aquatic therapy documentation.
List accurate aquatic therapy billing practices, coding requirements, and compliance expectations.
Describe how to align aquatic interventions with functional goals and payer language to support medical necessity.

Additional Information about Course Content

Articulating Medical Necessity in Aquatic Therapy:

Participants learn how to clearly explain why aquatic therapy is required for a specific patient—not just that it occurred—using diagnosis-driven and function-focused language.

Skilled vs. Unskilled Language Distinctions:

The course highlights common wording pitfalls that make aquatic therapy sound like exercise or recreation, and provides alternatives that accurately reflect skilled clinical reasoning.

Aquatic-Specific Billing and Coding Considerations:

Content reviews how to appropriately document intensity, progression, and therapist involvement when billing for aquatic therapy services.

Common Denial Triggers and Red Flags:

Participants examine documentation patterns that frequently result in audits or denials, with practical strategies to correct them proactively.

Linking Interventions to Functional Outcomes:

Emphasis is placed on connecting aquatic treatment choices to objective measures, patient goals, and observable functional change to strengthen defensibility.

Target Audience Statement

This course is designed primarily for professionals with a basic understanding of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Those likely to benefit most are: Physical therapist & assistants, Occupational therapists & assistants, Recreational therapist & assistants, Speech & language pathologist & assistants.

Students who are at the basic level of skill acquisition and those who are at a higher level of skill, but who are looking for a course that provides "best practice" ideas for techniques currently practiced are also welcome.

This course can be applied toward 3 elective hours for individuals who are seeking their ATU Aquaticist credential.

This course does not focus on evaluation or examination of the patient and the content is within the scope of practice for the Assistant working under the supervision of the PT or OT or RT or SLP. While the primary audience for the course is the PT/OT/RT/SLP provider, other rehabilitation providers will find it beneficial.

CEU/CCU Information

Andrea Salzman

Andrea Salzman, MS, PT graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Masters degree in physical therapy. Salzman is the Founder and Owner of the Aquatic Resources Network, the largest multidisciplinary clearinghouse of information on aquatic therapy. She currently serves as Director of Aquatic Therapy University and has assisted hundreds of facilities during the start-up and training phases of their aquatic practice. Salzman has received the highest honor given to an aquatic physical therapist from the American Physical Therapy Association, the Judy Cirullo Leadership Award. She has been listed in Who's Who for Aquatics multiple times over the years. Over her career, she has served as:
• Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy
• Manager, Regions Hospital Therapy Pool
• Adjunct Faculty, College of St. Catherine’s PT program
• Functional Design Consultant; Aquatic Therapy Facilities
• ARN Database Creator, 19,000 aquatic professionals
• Aquatic Health Research Database (AHRD) Creator, 8000 abstracts and growing
• Author, 5 aquatic therapy-related texts
• Monthly columnist, Aquatics International, Advance for PTs, Onsite Fitness, AusMed and other trade magazines

Patrick Jones - Course author

What's included in this online course?

A step-by-step guide

Your ATU instructor's expertise will help you master the fundamentals of aquatic therapy.

Study at your own pace

You can enroll in this course whenever you want, and study at your own time, location and pace.

Unique learning experience

We will learn with ATU's interactive courses with different media and quizzes, to improve your knowledge.

Course Lessons

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Disclaimer The content provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is intended for use by licensed and student rehabilitation professionals. It does not constitute legal, medical, or billing advice, nor does it create a provider–patient or attorney–client relationship. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and current compliance, laws, payer policies, and professional regulations vary by state and may change over time. Users are responsible for verifying all information with applicable federal, state, and payer rules before applying it in clinical or administrative practice. Participation in any ATU course, program, or resource does not guarantee licensure, certification, or reimbursement and should not be interpreted as a substitute for professional judgment, legal consultation, or individualized clinical decision-making. By using this site, you agree that Aquatic Therapy University and its affiliates are not liable for any errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from use of this information.

Documentation, Billing & Defensible Practice for Aquatic Therapy