Get CA Life Essential Healthcare Staffing Occupational Therapist Skills Checklist 2010-2024

Medi-Cal covers occupational therapy services when ordered on the written prescription of a physician, dentist or podiatrist and rendered by a Medi-Cal provider.

OT treatment services require a written prescription by a physician, dentist or podiatrist, within the practitioner's scope of practice (22 CCR, § 51309 (a)). The written prescription must be maintained in the student's files.

The COTA can attend an IEP with the OTR, and sign using COTA/L. Technically a COTA can attend an IEP without the OTR, but at that point the COTA risks being out of compliance with their license in the area of treatment planning.

Over time, your therapist will tell you whether or not more therapy will be beneficial or if it is the right time to discharge your child. It can be helpful to think of discharges as taking a break or “pause” in therapy because you never know if your child will need services again as they continue to grow and develop.

​​​​What are the Medi-Cal Benefits? Outpatient (Ambulatory) services. Emergency services. Hospitalization. Maternity and Newborn care. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services​ Prescription Drugs. Programs such as physical and occupational therapy (known as Rehabilitative & Habilitative Services) and devices.

Services covered by Medi-Cal include outpatient mental health services such as individual or group counseling, outpatient specialty mental health services, inpatient mental health services, outpatient substance use disorder services, residential treatment services, and voluntary inpatient detoxification.

Competencies in Occupational Therapy. Competencies are defined as a set of technical skills, knowledge, clinical reasoning, and reflection of daily practice for the benefit of the individual and their communities.

Occupational therapists help with barriers that affect a person's emotional, social, and physical needs. To do this, they use everyday activities, exercises, and other therapies. OT helps kids play, improves their school performance, and aids their daily activities.