Via AOTA: A decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow occupational therapists the ability to conduct initial and comprehensive assessments for Medicare home health cases is being celebrated by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

“We are pleased that CMS has recognized occupational therapy’s vital role in home health and AOTA’s advocacy efforts on this topic,” said Sherry Keramidas, PhD, FASAE, CAE, Executive Director of AOTA. “Access to occupational therapy services is more important than ever as occupational therapy practitioners are helping clients to navigate COVID-19 related challenges of occupational deprivation, participation in daily living, using occupation to support mental wellness, and re-engaging in occupations while recovering from COVID-19.”

The CMS decision has a retroactive effective date of March 1, 2020, through the end of the emergency declaration.