During this past legislative session, the legislative committee and our lobbyist Scot Butler has been working on an out- patient reimbursement bill, to provide out-patient occupational therapy services for Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS ) individuals who are 22 years of age or older.
Individuals who are on AHCCCS may receive occupational therapy services as in-patient (both acute care and rehabilitation services) and out-patient if they are 22 years and younger. Individuals are also eligible once they get on ALTCS (AZ long term care system) to receive out-pt occupational therapy services.
We opened SB 1526, in the beginning of the legislative session,(January 2007) which would have provided AHCCCS coverage for out-patient Occupational Therapy and Speech services for adult patients.
This bill passed the health committee, but died due to an inaccurate fiscal report. Scot Butler our lobbyist was able to provide the correct information, but the damage was done.
The bill was revived as an amendment to HB 2516; the bill was approved by the health committee. The bill was able to by pass the appropriation committee and was in the rules committee, awaiting the budget process.
The bad new is: bill HB 2516 did not make into the budget. The bill has officially died.
The good news is: Occupational Therapy and the need for Occupational Therapy services have been discussed and there are many individual in favor of OT services for AHCCCS at the out-patient level.
The committee will continue to work on this issue during the next legislative session.
The legislative committee meets monthly, the next meeting:
September 11, 2007 at
The meetings are held at Scot’s Butler office
917 W Mc Dowell Rd
If you have any questions or would like more information about the legislative committee
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