The clinical notes of orthotists and prosthetists will again be recognized as part of a patient’s medical record to determine reasonable and medical necessity of O&P devices—a change that was included in the bipartisan Continuing Resolution passed by Congress February 9. The provision is based on the Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Improvement Act of 2017, which set out to reverse a 2011 decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to no longer recognize those notes in an official capacity.
The same legislation includes a permanent repeal of the cap on Medicare outpatient therapy services, provides for changes to home health payments in 2020, and reduces payment for occupational therapy assistant services beginning in 2022.
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