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U.S. Senators Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) have partnered on The Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act of 2015 (S. 2364), a bipartisan bill meant to guarantee that Medicare beneficiaries receive timely access to essential home health therapy services.
The bill would permit occupational therapists to conduct the initial home health assessment in instances where occupational therapy is ordered by a doctor, along with physical therapy services and/or speech language pathology, and skilled nursing care is not needed.
“In states like Nevada with many rural communities, Medicare beneficiaries depend on in-home occupational therapy. Unfortunately, there are barriers prohibiting them from receiving needed treatment,” Sen. Heller said in a prepared statement. “The Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act is a simple fix that eliminates barriers, increases access, and reduces costs for those dependent on in-home health services.”