Reps John Lewis (D-GA) and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R_FL) recently introduced legislation that would improve utilization of occupational therapy as a home health service under Medicare. The Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act (HR 1094) is also actively supported by the National Association of Home Care and Hospice, the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, and was previously supported by the American Physical Therapy Association in the last Congress.
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is working with Congressional champions and previous supporters of the legislation to build support for passage during the 111th Congress. Lewis is a member of the Ways & Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare law. Diaz-Balart is a leader among moderate Republicans and has been a long-time supporter of occupational therapy on this home health issue.
AOTA fully supports introduction and passage of HR 1094 to make occupational therapy an initiating service for Medicare home health services. Current Medicare law creates an imbalance among skilled therapy services and restricts efficient staff utilization for home health agencies. Limiting access to occupational therapy in the home health setting causes agencies to provide care according to restrictions rather than what is in the best medical interest of their patients, the organization says.
Placing occupational therapy on a more equal footing with the qualifying services provides home health agencies and Medicare beneficiaries with improved access to the most appropriate service to meet their needs, AOTA says, adding that the legislation would improve efficiency and effectiveness of home health for Medicare beneficiaries by allowing occupational therapists to conduct the initial home health assessments when occupational therapy is listed on the physician’s order along with a qualifying service. The change in policy would be limited to rehabilitation-only cases.
[Source: AOTA]
