Medicare Part B Final Rule Poses Challenges, Provides Opportunities for OT Practitioners

The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule for Calendar Year (CY) 2023 updates the policies that occupational therapy practitioners must follow when delivering services to Medicare Part B beneficiaries beginning on January 1, 2023. These policies create some ongoing challenges for occupational therapy services, but also provide some potential opportunities for the future. Check out AOTA's CY 2023 MPFS Final Rule summary for details of policy updates and to learn more about AOTA's ongoing advocacy efforts.

AOTA Victory for Occupational Therapy in Home Health

The final Medicare home health prospective payment system rule permanently allows occupational therapists to perform the initial and comprehensive assessments required to open Medicare home health therapy cases beginning on January 1, 2022. Learn more about the final rule and how you can advocate for the role of occupational therapy in your home health agency.

New Policies in 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule was released on November 2. Read more about the finalized policies that affect occupational therapy services, including the OTA modifier payment reduction, correcting a practice expense issue with the OT evaluation codes, and extending the telehealth Category 3 codes until the end of 2023.

Senate Bill 112 Occupational Therapy Interstate Compact

Senate Sponsor: Gene Davis

House Sponsor:

What it does: Enacts the Occupational Therapy Interstate Licensure Compact and authorizes the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing to make rules to implement the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact.

Read/track the bill Here

JOIN THE NEXT HEARING on - Held - House Business and Labor Committee to address questions regarding reciprocity. This bill is likely to be resolved and pass through during the next committee hearing.

H.B. 25 Mental Health Protections for First Responders

House Sponsor: Karen Kwan

Senate Sponsor: Karen Mayne

What it does: Extends a current program where, “as appointed by the chair, one or more individuals with expertise in mental stress or occupational medicine to serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the workgroup.”

Read/track the bill Here

JOIN THE NEXT HEARING on - Senate 3rd Reading Calendar

H.B. 36 Telehealth Mental Health Program

House Sponsor: Raymond Ward

Senate Sponsor: Evan Vickers

What it does: Grant-funded pilot program for underserved communities and public schools, does not specify services provided

Read/track the bill Here

JOIN THE NEXT HEARING on - Senate Rules Committee

S.B. 63 Caregiver Compensation Amendments

Senate Sponsor: Wayne Harper

House Sponsor: Jennifer Dailey-Provost

What it does: Directs the Department of Health to apply for an amendment to an existing waiver to the state Medicaid plan to implement a program to reimburse a spouse who provides extraordinary personal care services to a waiver enrollee; and make administrative rules defining personal care services that are extraordinary

Read/track the bill Here

JOIN THE NEXT HEARING on - House Rules Committee