Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act of 2009 (H.R. 1094) Talking Points

  • AOTA fully supports passage of H.R. 1094.  Current Medicare law creates an imbalance among skilled therapy services and must be corrected.  Limiting access to occupational therapy in the home health setting causes agencies to provide care according to arbitrary restrictions rather than what is in the best medical interest of their patients. 
  • Placing occupational therapy on more equal footing with other qualifying services provides home health agencies and Medicare beneficiaries with a choice of the most appropriate service to meet their needs.  This would improve efficiency and effectiveness of home health for Medicare beneficiaries.
  • Occupational therapy is covered as an equal and distinct skilled service in every post-acute care setting except for home health. H.R. 1094 would make occupational therapy an initiating service in the home health setting.
  • Current Medicare law unnecessarily limits access for patients and hampers home health agencies from providing the most efficient and effective care possible. 
  • Increasing access to occupational therapy in the home and community setting will save money in the long term for two important reasons.  First, home care is less expensive than facility based services.  Secondly, providing access to occupational therapy in people’s homes will reduce the need for institutionalization.  Occupational therapy increases function and maximizes independence which has a direct relationship to helping clients avoid or delay unwanted institutionalization.
  • Additional questions or requests for information should be directed to AOTA’s Federal Affairs Department by e-mailing FAD@aota.org or calling  (301)652-6611 . 

Last Updated: 6/3/2009
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