AOTA Health Reform Leave Behind 2009
AOTA Position:
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) agrees with the growing consensus that there is a need for reform in the American health care system to address problems including coverage for the uninsured, access to care, quality, cost growth, and workforce shortages. As the professional association representing the interests of more than 140,000 occupational therapy practitioners and students, AOTA believes that a national debate and discussion about health care is needed.
AOTA’s Priorities
Protect and Strengthen Medicare and Medicaid
AOTA is concerned that health reform is being financed by cuts to Medicare, specifically to skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies. Medicare must be strengthened to ensure continued access to necessary services for America’s seniors. AOTA supports the extension of the exceptions process for the Medicare Outpatient Therapy Caps and Congress’s intent to address the problem of the scheduled 20% cut to the physician fee schedule. AOTA also supports expansion of Medicare to 133% of poverty and the extension of EPSDT mandates to all children covered under the proposed exchange plans.
Ensure Access to Rehabilitation Services:
Rehabilitation and habilitation services must be a specific required category of services under the proposed exchange as currently included in the House and HELP Committee bills. AOTA stands with the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) to call for the explicit inclusion of rehabilitation, habilitation and related devices in the final health care reform bill. Rehabilitation services like occupational therapy are critical to meeting the goals of health reform and ensuring improved health outcomes that will allow Americans to live healthier more productive and satisfying lives.
Improve Home Health Services for Medicare Beneficiaries
AOTA has long been working to improve access to occupational therapy for Medicare home health beneficiaries. We are working to include the intent of the Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act (HR 1094) in the final health reform bill. The cost neutral, bi-partisan provision would allow occupational therapists to open cases and conduct the initial and comprehensive assessment for Medicare home health beneficiaries when occupational therapy is on the physician’s order with a qualifying service. The provision is also supported by the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Please co-sponsor HR 1094 to demonstrate your support for this common sense improvement as we work on it in the health reform process.
Address Health Care Workforce Needs:
AOTA recognizes the strain expanded coverage will have on the health care workforce, particularly for professions like occupational therapy that have existing shortages. AOTA supports the inclusion of programs like those for “frontline” health providers that specifically reference occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistants as key professions within the health and mental health workforce.
For more information about health care reform contact AOTA’s Federal Affairs Department at fad@aota.org.