Episode 63

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Published on:

20th May 2025

Ep 63: Home Health OT vs OT in the Home: Differences in Billing and Practice

Home Health OT vs OT in the Home: Differences in Billing and Practice

Welcome to The Amplify OT Podcast with your host, Clarice Grote—occupational therapist, founder of Amplify OT, and self-proclaimed policy nerd who actually enjoys reading the long documents most people avoid.

No matter where you are in your occupational therapy journey, you belong here as an important part of this community. The work you do matters. Your voice matters. And advocacy isn’t just possible—it’s powerful.

Let’s get started—because change starts here.

View all Amplify OT Podcast episodes at podcast.amplifyot.com

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Providing OT in the home or doing mobile outpatient has become so much more popular in the last few years, especially for individuals who are branching out into their own private practices. But if you’re working for one of these companies or considering starting your own, it’s important to understand the differences in billing and scope of practice between the two, as it greatly impacts patient care and reimbursement. That’s why this week on The Amplify OT Podcast, I am talking about home health OT vs OT in the home: key differences in billing and practice!


In this episode, I cover:

  • The fundamental differences between home health (Medicare Part A, provided by home health agencies) and OT in the home (mobile outpatient, typically billed under Medicare Part B).
  • Key eligibility and admission criteria for each setting, including what “homebound status” really means.
  • How billing and reimbursement work, from value-based and bundled payments (PDGM for home health) to fee-for-service, timed codes, and considerations for cash-pay.
  • The critical role of “qualifying services,” why OT isn’t currently considered qualifying under Medicare Part A, and important advocacy efforts to change this.
  • Scope of OT practice in each setting—why home modifications and specialized services are more prevalent in mobile outpatient, and why home health tends to be more generalist due to payment structure.


Amplify OT Resources

Want to keep learning about how insurance and reimbursement impact you? Then head to AmplifyOT.com to check ‘em out!


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About the Podcast

The Amplify OT Podcast
Empowering Occupational Therapy Practitioners to Lead Change in Healthcare
The Amplify OT Podcast is your go-to show for making sense of healthcare policy, advocacy, and reimbursement in occupational therapy. Hosted by Clarice Grote—occupational therapist, founder of Amplify OT, and self-proclaimed policy nerd who actually enjoys reading the long documents most people avoid—this podcast breaks down complex systems so you can navigate them with confidence.

No matter where you are in your occupational therapy journey—student, new grad, educator, or experienced clinician—you belong here as an important part of our OT Amplifier community. Each episode is designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to understand how policy impacts your practice, your patients, and the future of the profession.

The work you do matters. Your voice matters. And advocacy isn’t just possible—it’s powerful. So let’s get started—because change starts here.

About your host

Profile picture for Clarice Grote

Clarice Grote

Clarice Grorte is an occupational therapist and lived the transformation from guessing to confident by learning to understand policy.

She's the creator of The Amplify OT Podcast, Mastering OT Policy & Medicare™, and the Amplify OT Membership™.

She is passionate about spreading the word on the value of occupational therapy and proving to OTs and OTAs that they already have the skills the need to be amazing OT advocates