Demystifying Occupational Therapy Billing: Face-to-face vs. Non Face-to-face Services

Introduction

Occupational Therapists (OTs) are dedicated professionals who have completed a rigorous four-year university degree, numerous placements, ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training, networking, and regular formal supervision. We are a passionate group of individuals dedicated to helping our clients in any way possible, often going above and beyond to ensure we meet their needs.

However, the nature of our work often leaves clients confused about what aspects of our services are billable, especially since much of the work we do takes place behind the scenes. To help demystify this, here’s an overview of what face-to-face and non face-to-face billable time encompasses in occupational therapy.

Face-to-face Billables

Face-to-face billables include all the time we spend physically present with you. This encompasses daily appointments, initial assessments, school and community visits, equipment trials, team meetings, and telehealth appointments. Whether we’re at your home, in the clinic, or on a video call, any time we’re actively engaging with you or on your behalf is considered billable.

Non face-to-face Billables

Non face-to-face billables cover an extensive range of tasks that occur behind the scenes, and these are equally important in ensuring your needs are met.

• Report Writing: Occupational Therapists often have to write detailed reports to fulfil government requirements. These documents articulate your needs, progress, and future treatment plans, which are crucial in securing funding for interventions.
• Assessment Completion and Scoring: OTs conduct comprehensive assessments and invest significant time in scoring these evaluations to understand your abilities and needs better.
• Correspondence: Emails, phone calls, and other communication with support coordinators, other allied health team members, clients, assistive technology salespeople, builders, and support work agencies, all constitute billable time.
• Travel: The time spent travelling to and from your home visits also counts as a billable service, as this time directly contributes to the provision of your therapy.
• Research: Identifying suitable assistive technology or home modifications that can enhance your independence involves considerable research, which is billable.
• Therapy Program Preparation: Your OT also spends time preparing personalised therapy programs, creating resources, and designing handouts to aid your progress.

Conclusion

The role of an Occupational Therapist extends far beyond face-to-face appointments, with significant time invested behind the scenes to ensure the provision of personalised, effective therapy. Each action, whether obvious or unseen, is designed to contribute to the achievement of your therapy goals. Transparency is crucial in our profession, so if you ever have any queries about what or how much your therapist is billing, we’re always open to answering questions and providing clarification.