Representatives Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Glenn Thompson (R-PA) recently introduced the bipartisan Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Act of 2023. The bill returns authority to the physician and rehabilitation team in an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) to determine the right mix of therapies for an individual to meet the intensity of therapy requirements.

Specifically, the bill will clarify that therapy requirements at an IRF shall consist of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology services, and/or orthotic or prosthetic services at the time of admission, and after admission, may be modified based on the physician and rehabilitation team’s judgment to include:

• Recreational therapy
• Respiratory therapy
• Other skilled services

This legislation will help increase patient access to recreational therapy where appropriate and ensure that patients have a rehabilitation plan designed to best meet their needs.