Telehealth Opportunities in Occupational Therapy Through the Affordable Care Act

Jana Cason, DHS, OTR/L, is Associate Professor, Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy, Spalding University, 845 South Third Street, Louisville, KY 40203; jcason@spalding.edu Occupational therapy practitioners and their clients are poised to benefit from the use of emerging technologies to deliver health and wellness, habilitation, and rehabilitation services across multiple practice settings. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; 2010) defines a new direction for the U.S. health care system by transforming the current health care system to improve access, quality, efficiency, and transparency of health care services. These goals are addressed by employer incentives, expansion of public programs, premium and cost-sharing subsidies, health insurance exchanges, and coordinated care approaches such as accountable care organizations (ACOs) and patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs). These aspects of the ACA may increase coverage and access to health care services for millions of Americans.