NAC640A.230. Scope of services with and without referral of patient by licensed provider of health care.

     1. An occupational therapist may practice occupational therapy on a patient for specific medical conditions if the patient has been referred to the occupational therapist by a provider of health care licensed to practice in this state.

     2. An occupational therapist may, without referral, provide occupational therapy services, including, without limitation, evaluation, planning and implementing a program of intervention, monitoring services and consultation for a person whose ability to perform the tasks of daily living is impaired by:

     (a) Developmental deficiencies;

     (b) The aging process;

     (c) Environmental deprivation;

     (d) Sensory impairment;

     (e) Psychological or social dysfunction; or

     (f) Other conditions.

     3. An occupational therapist may provide the occupational therapy services listed in subsection 2 in a nonmedical setting, including, without limitation, a residential setting, an educational setting, a vocational setting, a recreational setting, or a center that provides for the care of adults or children during the day.

     4. As used in this section:

     (a) “Consultation” includes working with providers of health care and other persons involved in the care of a patient to provide advice and services.

     (b) “Monitoring services” includes those services which are characterized by regular contact at least once per month to:

          (1) Check or regulate adaptive and positioning equipment to ensure its proper use; or

          (2) Assess the level of skills of a patient, including, without limitation, the adaptive skills of the patient.

     (c) “Specific medical conditions” includes those conditions of acute trauma, infection, disease, aging or postsurgical status where custom requires the involvement of a provider of health care.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Occupational Therapy, eff. 12-23-92; A by R083-99, 9-27-99; R210-07, 9-18-2008)