Congressional Therapy Champions Introduce Bill to Make Occupational Therapy Practitioners Permanent Telehealth Providers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON, DC (November 17, 2020)—A bill that could enable occupational therapy practitioners to provide services to Medicare beneficiaries via telehealth even after the current public health emergency (PHE) expires was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week. The Expanded Telehealth Access Act (ETAA) sponsored by U.S. Reps Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and David McKinley (R-WV) aims to continue use of telehealth. The legislation is essential because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has indicated that it does not have the authority to extend the current PHE telehealth therapy provisions without Congressional action.
“Waivers issued by CMS to allow occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to provide services to Medicare beneficiaries via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated the effectiveness of occupational therapy delivered through telehealth and the importance of removing barriers to care,” said Wendy C. Hildenbrand, PhD, MPH, OTR/L, FAOTA, President of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). “AOTA champions the bi-partisan efforts of Representatives Sherrill and McKinley to insure that the provision of occupational therapy delivered via telehealth will remain an option for Medicare beneficiaries once the Public Health Emergency ends.”
Representative Sherrill’s district includes Morristown, Parsippany, and other towns in northern New Jersey. “Telehealth has enabled seniors and others who are at higher risk of complications related to COVID-19 to continue to receive essential therapy services during the pandemic,” Sherrill said. “Many Medicare beneficiaries are eager to continue to access care via telehealth, and the Expanded Telehealth Access Act would enable them to do so.”
Representative McKinley’s district covers northern West Virginia, including Wheeling and Morgantown. “Ensuring access to quality health care is more important now than ever. All too often people who live in rural communities in West Virginia don’t have access to the health care specialists they need,” McKinley said. “It is crucial that such access via telehealth not end abruptly once the public health emergency ends.”
When the pandemic struck, Congress enacted legislation that enabled CMS to waive restrictions on occupational therapy practitioners and other therapy providers’ ability to provide Medicare services via telehealth. CMS responded by issuing an emergency rule that added a series of therapy CPT® codes to the telehealth services list, and then subsequently issued another rule that included occupational therapy practitioners as eligible Medicare telehealth providers, once Congress enacted legislation allowing them to do so. This effectively enabled occupational therapy practitioners to provide services via telehealth to Part B Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 emergency; however, these waivers are not permanent.
In addition to the Expanded Telehealth Access Act, numerous bills have been introduced in the House and Senate, including legislation developed by key Congressional Committee staff that would enable CMS to make the necessary changes to continue occupational therapy access via telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries.
Because the ETAA is the only bill specifically focused on therapy, it provides the opportunity to demonstrate Congressional support for the inclusion of therapy services under the Medicare telehealth benefit. To see this provision signed into law, support of co-sponsors is needed. AOTA will continue to work with Congressional champions to insure that occupational therapy is included when Congress addresses this issue.
Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the professional interests and concerns of more than 230,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide. Occupational therapy practitioners facilitate participation in everyday living for people of all ages. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in North Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, visit www.aota.org
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To interview a representative from AOTA on this topic, contact AOTA's Communications Team, at praota@aota.org.