Federal Affairs Update In the winter AOTA Federal to withdraw a proposal that AOTA continues to work with Affairs Update newsletter would have “lifted the Congress to enact the several initiatives were shared exemption for occupational Medicare Home Health in relation to current and therapists from accreditation Flexibility Act (H.R. future practice. A brief requirements applied to 3820/S977) which would summary of the initiatives suppliers who furnish and enable occupational therapists include the following: fabricate orthotics and to conduct initial and Tricare prosthetics for Medicare comprehensive evaluations Congress passed a bill that beneficiaries.” for home health therapy will require Tricare to Cognitive Code patients. reimburse for services New rules for the 2018 For more information on these provided by occupational Medicare Physician Fee initiatives please go to: therapy assistants and Schedule which apply to physical therapy assistants. Medicare Part B services Therapy Cap include that several codes for AOTA has made progress and occupational therapy will is supporting a bi-partisan receive increases and some proposal to repeal the therapy decreases, as well as a new cap, late action on this to be code for cognitive function posted towards the end of intervention which takes December and into 2018. effect January 1, 2018. The (Content synthesized from link.) Orthotics Regulations cognitive skills development For more information on AOTA’s lobbying efforts were code has been omitted. regulatory affairs please go to: successful in convincing CMS Home Health From the President… Season's Greetings MOTA members! I hope that everyone is staying healthy and enjoying this most wonderful time of
Federal Affairs Update In the winter AOTA Federal Affairs Update newsletter several initiatives were shared in relation to current and future practice. A brief summary of the initiatives include the following: Tricare Congress passed a bill that will require Tricare to reimburse for services provided by occupational therapy assistants and physical therapy assistants. Therapy Cap AOTA has made progress and is supporting a bi-partisan proposal to repeal the therapy cap, late action on this to be posted towards the end of December and into 2018. Orthotics Regulations AOTA’s lobbying efforts were successful in convincing CMS to withdraw a proposal that would have “lifted the exemption for occupational therapists from accreditation requirements applied to suppliers who furnish and fabricate orthotics and prosthetics for Medicare beneficiaries.” Cognitive Code New rules for the 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule which apply to Medicare Part B services include that several codes for occupational therapy will receive increases and some decreases, as well as a new code for cognitive function intervention which takes effect January 1, 2018. The cognitive skills development code has been omitted. Home Health AOTA continues to work with Congress to enact the Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act (H.R. 3820/S977) which would enable occupational therapists to conduct initial and comprehensive evaluations for home health therapy patients. For more information on these initiatives please go to: (Content synthesized from link.) For more information on regulatory affairs please go to: From the President… Season's Greetings MOTA members! I hope that everyone is staying healthy and enjoying this most wonderful time of
Winter_Newsletter_2017.docx