Date of Award

Spring 2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Public Administration (DPA)

Department

Public Policy and Administration

Committee Chairperson

Allison Turner, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Michelle Wade, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Nene Okunna, Ph.D.

Abstract

Physical, occupational, and speech therapy services have been successfully performed using telehealth as a delivery method since the COVID19 pandemic. But patient access to telehealth therapy services is threatened with the pending expiration of therapy extenders in the Full Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act. This study aimed to assess which therapy interventions are the most effective using telehealth. Methods used were therapist surveys with both Likert scale and open-ended questions and in-depth interviews distributed via national therapy society message boards and patient surveys delivered via their treating therapist. Results of the study showed both therapists and patients believe telehealth should be permanent to ensure patient access to therapy services. Therapists indicated that, when necessary, therapy services can be tailored to meet the needs of patients via telehealth with access issues. However, when given the option, therapists believe that telehealth should be a selective process based on patient needs and therapist discretion. The main findings of the study are that the most effective therapy services delivered via telehealth are SLP codes 92507, 92521, 92522, 92523, 92524 and the PT re-evaluation code followed by the OT re-evaluation, 97535, and 97116. The study also showed notable limitations including inadequacies of using CPT® codes as the method of determining effectiveness. Many different therapy interventions fall under the same CPT® code, some of which are successful via telehealth and others are not. Limiting access to only the most effective CPT® codes based on their ambiguity would be detrimental to patient access for appropriate interventions.

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