Occupational Therapy

TRICARE covers occupational therapy when it’s:

• Prescribed and supervised by any of the following professionals:
  • A physician
  • A certified physician assistant (PA) supervised by a physician
  • A certified nurse practitioner
  • A podiatrist
• Professionally administered to improve, restore, or maintain function or to minimize or prevent deterioration of function.

TRICARE doesn’t cover the occupational therapy services below. This list isn’t all inclusive.

• Vocational assessment and training
• General exercise programs
• Separate charges for instruction of the patient and family in therapy procedures
• Repetitive exercise to improve gait, maintain strength and endurance, or assist walking
• Maintenance therapy that doesn’t require a skilled level after a therapy program has been designed.
• Range of motion and passive exercises that aren’t related to restoration of a specific loss of function
• Sensory integration therapy that may be considered a part of cognitive rehabilitation

Contact your regional contractor for specific exclusions to the occupational therapy benefit.