Purpose

This policy establishes guidelines for the issuance and redemption of gift cards in order to ensure compliance with applicable federal healthcare regulations, including Medicare beneficiary inducement provisions, insurance billing rules, and applicable state consumer protection laws.

Eligible Use of Gift Cards

Gift cards may be redeemed only for cash-based services, wellness services, performance services, or retail products offered by Orthopedic Spine & Sports Therapy.

Gift cards may not be applied toward services billed to insurance, including but not limited to:

Insurance co-payments
Deductibles
Coinsurance balances
Medically necessary physical therapy services billed to any payer
Medicare or Medicaid covered services

If a service is determined to be medically necessary and billed to insurance, the gift card may not be used as payment.

Medicare & Federal Healthcare Program Compliance

In accordance with federal regulations related to beneficiary inducements, gift cards shall not be used in a manner that could be interpreted as an incentive to influence a patient’s selection of a provider for services reimbursable by Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal healthcare programs.

Gift cards:

Will not be provided free of charge to Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries in connection with covered services.
Will not be used to waive required patient financial responsibility such as co-payments or deductibles.
May only be redeemed for non-covered services or retail products.

Expiration & Consumer Protection

In accordance with Michigan law, gift cards may not expire earlier than five (5) years from the date of purchase. The expiration date will be clearly disclosed at the time of purchase.

Non-Refundable Policy

Gift cards:

Are non-refundable
Are not redeemable for cash except where required by law
Cannot be replaced if lost, stolen, altered, or damaged

The clinic reserves the right to refuse redemption if a card appears fraudulent or altered.

Clinical Appropriateness

All services redeemed through a gift card remain subject to provider evaluation and clinical appropriateness. Orthopedic Spine & Sports Therapy reserves the right to decline or modify services if they are determined to be medically inappropriate for the individual.

Recipients redeeming services must complete:

Patient registration forms
Consent to treatment documentation
HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices acknowledgement

Liability & Medical Disclosure

Patients redeeming gift cards must disclose relevant medical history and conditions prior to receiving services. Orthopedic Spine & Sports Therapy shall not be responsible for adverse outcomes resulting from:

Failure to disclose medical history
Failure to follow provider recommendations
Noncompliance with treatment instructions

Acceptance of Terms

Purchase or redemption of a gift card constitutes acceptance of this policy and all applicable clinic terms and conditions.

Physical Therapy Gift Card Policy