Occupational Therapy
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy (OT) helps you relearn the skills of everyday life after you have been ill or injured. You may learn new ways to:
- eat
- cook
- bathe and dress
- do common household tasks
- keep doing your usual work activities.
Occupational therapists work with physical or speech therapists, nurses, and doctors to coordinate care.
When may occupational therapy be needed?
You may need OT if you have had:
- a stroke or other type of paralysis
- lung disease
- broken bones that make it hard to do everyday tasks
- a head injury
- a hand injury or surgery
- joint replacements
- severe vision problems, including blindness
- any illness or injury that affects your ability to do your job.
What does an occupational therapist do to help me?
The therapist helps you learn ways to do everyday tasks despite your disability or illness. The therapist may:
- Teach you shortcuts and how to use adaptive equipment such as reachers, visual aids, special kitchen utensils, or bathroom aids.
- Make hand splints and show you how to do hand exercises.
- Evaluate your home or workplace and suggest ways to do things more easily and safely.
Where do I get occupational therapy?
Therapy can be done in the hospital, in a therapy clinic, or at home.
What is the Medicare coverage for occupational therapy?
Medicare helps pay for medically necessary occupational therapy when:
- Your doctor or therapist sets up the plan of treatment.
- Your doctor periodically reviews the plan to see how long you will get therapy.
Medicare pays a percentage of an OT bill that it approves. If you need therapy when you are a patient in the hospital, the therapy is part of the total bill and Medicare pays the hospital a specific rate based on your medical problem. You are responsible for deductibles and parts of the bills not covered by Medicare. If you have a Medicare supplemental plan, the plan may cover these charges. The amounts you must pay may be higher if an occupational therapist does not accept Medicare assignment.
