Therapy is essential

The Jan. 8 online article “New York Mayor de Blasio Vows Health Care for All, Including Undocumented Immigrants” describes Mayor Bill de Blasio’s new insurance plan called NYC Care. This plan guarantees affordable health care for all New York residents, creating access to primary care and various specialty services.

NYC Care’s goal is to create a cost-effective system that addresses medical problems earlier to reduce the need for costly emergency room visits. To meet this goal, it is essential that this plan covers occupational therapy services.

Occupational therapy is a client-centered service that promotes independence and wellbeing through participation in meaningful daily activities. This profession has a significant role in health promotion and the prevention of unhealthy conditions, injury and disease.

Occupational therapists have the skills to identify risk factors, provide education about healthy lifestyles, and collaborate with the client to establish new habits and routines that improve overall well-being. Under NYC Care, the current 600,000 New York residents who do not have access to insurance will have the opportunity to be evaluated by medical professionals. It is crucial that occupational therapists are included in these initial evaluations so that they can identify who will benefit from their services and address their clients’ needs sooner.

Rather than treating a client after health problems become life-threatening, occupational therapists will be able to be more proactive in the prevention of medical conditions, ultimately leading to reduced health care costs.

LAUREN KENNEY

South Side