Legislative Action Center

The use of telehealth to deliver a wide range of services, including occupational therapy, has expanded significantly since 2020 when Congress enacted temporary waivers allowing more types of practitioners, including occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants (OTPs), to provide services to Medicare beneficiaries via telehealth. These waivers were extended multiple times; however, they expired on September 30 as part of a larger Congressional spending impasse that has resulted in a federal government shut-down.

To address this, Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Adrian Smith (R-NE) have introduced H.R. 1614, which would permanently authorize OTPs and other therapists as Medicare telehealth providers. In addition, Reps Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Debbie Dingell D-MI) and Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) have introduced the Telehealth Modernization Act (H.R.5081/S.2709) which would extend telehealth waivers through September 2027. AOTA is also supporting efforts to reintroduce the Expanded Telehealth Access Act which would also establish OTPs as permanent providers.

AOTA urges Congress to enact legislation to list OTPs as telehealth providers in Medicare on a permanent basis and to reinstate and extend temporary waivers for as long as necessary before such legislation is enacted.

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