Original Medicare (Parts A & B): Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy
Sometimes illness and injury occur that cause functional decline and require us to rebuild our skills and strength. PT, OT, and ST are expert allies.
Access all my benefitsGet insurance benefits, legal documents, and medical records in one place
How To Receive
Details on how to apply
The provider must certify that therapy (PT, OT, or ST) is medically necessary.
PT means Physical Therapy
OT means Occupational Therapy
ST means Speech Therapy
The provider makes a referral for evaluation and treatment.
Locate a Medicare-certified home health agency (Find home health services near me) or an outpatient services facility from which to receive therapy.
Note that for home health services, a provider must certify that your loved one meets home health criteria.
Schedule an appointment for an initial evaluation, care plan development, and scheduling of future visits.
Attend the visits as scheduled until care plan goals are met, or progress toward goals ceases.
Follow through with any instructions, home exercises, and recommendations.
For more information on Medicare benefits and coverage, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit the Medicare Benefits Website. TTY users, call 1-877-486-2048.
Get more support and guidance on insurance benefits, medical records and legal forms.
Helpful brings together your insurance benefits, legal documents, and medical records in one personalized place — so you always know what you have, and never have to search again.
Physical therapy (PT)
Physical therapy (PT) focuses on the acquisition and/or improvement of skills related to gross motor movement (sitting, standing, walking, lifting), strength, and balance.
When your loved one's provider certifies that it is needed, Medicare covers evaluation and treatment for injuries and diseases that change your loved one's ability to function, or improve or maintain current function, or slow decline.
Occupational therapy (OT)
Occupational therapy (OT) focuses on the acquisition and mastery of basic, self-help skills required for daily living.
When your loved one's provider certifies that it is needed, Medicare covers medically necessary therapy to help your loved one perform activities of daily living (ADLs), like dressing or bathing. This therapy helps to improve or maintain current capabilities or slow decline.
Speech-language pathology/therapy (SLP, ST, or SLT)
Speech therapy (ST) focuses on the acquisition and use of language through mechanics of speaking, strength of voice, cognitive processing, and social rules of verbal and visual language. It also focuses on safe swallowing.
When your loved one's provider certifies that it is needed, Medicare covers medically necessary evaluation and treatment to regain and strengthen speech and language skills or to improve or maintain current function, or slow decline. This includes cognitive and swallowing skills.
Navigate Healthcare with a Little Help from Helpful
Healthcare is complicated, Helpful isn't. Get in-network mental health care, understand medical records, receive insurance benefits, and prepare for the future.
