Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act
This bill, titled the Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act, would not change what is covered or how much is paid for occupational therapy (OT) under Medicare. Instead, it requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide education and outreach within one year after enactment to stakeholders about how OT services for substance use or mental health disorders are addressed in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, using the applicable HCPCS codes. In short, the bill aims to clarify and communicate current Medicare policy on OT for mental health and substance use conditions, ensuring stakeholders understand how these services should be coded and billed. Note: The bill does not specify new funding or expand benefits; it focuses on education, outreach, and clarification of existing policy.
Key Points
- 1Short title: The bill is named the “Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act.”
- 2Education/outreach mandate: Within one year of enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must provide education and outreach to stakeholders about Medicare coverage of OT for mental health and substance use disorders.
- 3Policy reference: The outreach focuses on the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, ensuring stakeholders understand how OT services are treated under Medicare for these conditions.
- 4Coding framework: Emphasizes the use of applicable HCPCS codes to document and bill OT services for mental health or substance use disorders.
- 5Scope and intent: The bill seeks to clarify coverage and reduce ambiguity in how OT for mental health and substance use disorders is described in Medicare policies, rather than creating new benefits or expanding entitlement.