Senators introduce bill to establish OTPs as permanent Medicare telehealth providers

Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Tina Smith (D-MN) have reintroduced the Expanded Telehealth Access Act (S.3834) which would establish occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) as permanent Medicare telehealth providers along with physical therapists and SLPs. The bill is similar to H.R.1614 which was previously introduced in the House by Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Adrian Smith (R-NE).

Earlier this month, Congress approved a legislative package which included an extension of Medicare waivers that will allow OTPs to provide services via telehealth through December 31, 2027. Medicare telehealth waivers were first enacted by Congress in 2020, and they were periodically extended until September 2025 when telehealth policy became ensnared in the Congressional spending debate that resulted in a 42-day government shutdown and expiration of the waiver. The latest 2-year extension should provide time for Congress to develop and enact permanent telehealth policy for Medicare.

AOTA Chief Executive Officer Katie Jordan, OTD, MBA, OTR/L, FAOTA notes that “current telehealth waivers have reduced barriers to care, ensuring seniors can access timely and medically necessary occupational therapy services at home.” She adds that Congress should “take action so that occupational therapy practitioners are made permanent Medicare telehealth providers–ensuring patients can continue to receive the essential care they need.”

AOTA has long advocated for the inclusion of OTPs as Medicare telehealth providers. We have worked with Congressional champions to make sure that OTPs are included in extensions of telehealth waivers, including this most recent one. We are hopeful that Congress will use the next two years to implement permanent Medicare telehealth policies, including making OTPs permanent telehealth providers to prevent future disruptions. Bills such as the Expanded Telehealth Access Act and H.R.1614 enable Members of Congress to show their support for a permanent therapy telehealth policy.

AOTA will continue to work with Congressional champions to ensure that occupational therapy is included when Congress addresses this issue.