Reimbursement

Reimbursement for Occupational Therapy services has always been on the minds of therapists in Wyoming. Recently WyOTA began to address this concern and identified this topic as a primary concern of its members. A list of companies providing health care coverage in Wyoming was obtained from the Wyoming Insurance Commission and a letter was sent to the top ten companies found on this list. The letter provided information about Occupational Therapy and the many services, which can be provided by Occupational Therapists. Additionally, the letters requested a response form each company providing our state association with a brief description of the coverage for our services.

A response was received from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, the largest provider of health care coverage in Wyoming. Blue Cross Blue Shield indicated that the plans offered do include Occupational Therapy services, however some members of WyOTA indicated that reimbursement for these services is sometime difficult to receive. WyOTA will continue to work with Blue Cross Blue Shield to ensure that Occupational Therapy services are covered at an acceptable and equal rate when compared to other stakeholders. No other companies have responded to date, but WyOTA will continue to contact them in an effort to promote Occupational Therapy and the coverage of our services.

It is the goal of WyOTA to work with insurance providers to ensure that the services provided by Occupational Therapists are considered a benefit at an acceptable and equal rate of reimbursement. Additionally it is the goal of WyOTA to provide educational information to these companies to promote our valuable and unique profession and the services we provide to the clients we treat.

WyOTA has been successful in establishing Occupational Therapists as independent providers with Medicaid. This has had a positive impact on our profession and will help support our efforts when working with third party payers. As WyOTA continues to address the issue of reimbursement more information will be posted on the website and in newsletters. If you have concerns, comments or suggestions please contact Sara A. King at sarah-a-king@bresnan.net.