New Legislation Would Expand Access to Occ Therapy

Source: NAHC, Feb. 5, 2024

In a promising bipartisan effort, the Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act, H.R. 7148, has been introduced by a coalition of legislators including Reps. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11), Dr. John Joyce (R-PA-13), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37). This crucial bill aims to revolutionize home health care by allowing occupational therapy (OT) to be ordered as a stand-alone service for Medicare beneficiaries.

Currently, OT services are excluded from qualifying beneficiaries for Medicare’s Part A home health benefit. This limitation means that OT services can only be provided in a beneficiary’s home if other therapy services, such as nursing, physical therapy, or speech and language pathology, are simultaneously ordered at the start of care.

Congressman Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) expressed his enthusiasm for the bill, stating, “The Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act will ensure beneficiaries can receive the care they need in a setting that more and more prefer—at home. Our commonsense measure will tailor home health orders to each patient, maximizing their ability to thrive at home and avoid costly rehospitalizations.”

Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), emphasized the bipartisan nature of the bill, calling it a “game changer for patients who wish to heal and recover in the comfort of their homes.” He stressed the importance of in-home occupational therapy, especially in rural communities.

The proposed legislation received widespread support from Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), who highlighted the critical role home- and community-based care play in the healthcare system. Removing unnecessary barriers to receiving health care at home, he said, would provide more patient choices and access, particularly benefiting seniors.

Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY-20) pointed out that passage of the bill would better target home health services to meet specific patient needs, particularly in preventing falls and accidents, ultimately enabling Medicare beneficiaries to remain independently at home.

The National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) supports this new legislation and applauds the sponsors for their leadership. With the bill’s introduction NAHC President Bill Dombi said, “It is time that Congress rectify a long-standing weakness in the home health benefit by making occupational therapy a qualifying skilled service. OT is an essential service not only for patients, it also is a proven means to saving Medicare expenditures.”