Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act
Sponsored By: Representative Smucker
Introduced
Summary
Expands Medicare home health eligibility to include occupational therapy needs. The bill would add occupational therapy as a qualifying therapy for Medicare-covered home health services alongside physical and speech therapy, with the change taking effect January 1, 2026.
Show full summary
- Medicare beneficiaries and families: People who need occupational therapy could qualify for home health services under Medicare when that need is the basis for eligibility. This can make home-based supports available to more beneficiaries.
- Occupational therapists and home health providers: Occupational therapy would be explicitly recognized in the law as a therapy that supports a beneficiary's eligibility for home health care, allowing providers to serve those patients in home settings starting January 1, 2026.
- Statutory change: The bill amends Parts A and B of the Social Security Act to list occupational therapy alongside physical and speech therapy as a basis for home health eligibility.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Medicare home health if you need occupational therapy
If enacted, a need for occupational therapy would count toward Medicare home health eligibility, alongside speech therapy. You could qualify under Part A or Part B. Home health agencies could provide and bill Medicare for occupational therapy at home. This would apply to services on or after January 1, 2026.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Smucker
PA • R
Cosponsors
Joyce (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Doggett
TX • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Miller (WV)
WV • R
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Thompson (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 3/24/2025
Yakym
IN • R
Sponsored 4/28/2025
Carey
OH • R
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Kelly (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Steube
FL • R
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Wittman
VA • R
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Bresnahan
PA • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Kim
CA • R
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Sherman
CA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Weber (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Messmer
IN • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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