March 10, 2025
Mr. Smucker (for himself, Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Tonko, Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Davis of North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for eligibility for coverage of home health services under the Medicare program on the basis of a need for occupational therapy.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act
.
Sec. 2. Eligibility for home health services on the basis of a need for occupational therapy
(a) Part A
Section 1814(a)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(2)(C)) is amended by striking or speech therapy
and all that follows through need occupational therapy
and inserting , occupational, or speech therapy
.
(b) Part B
Section 1835(a)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395n(a)(2)(A)) is amended by striking or speech therapy
and all that follows through need occupational therapy
and inserting , occupational, or speech therapy
.
(c) Effective date
The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to home health services provided on or after January 1, 2026.