ADVANCE Outlook: OT : Policy/Legislation

And Just Who Should Be Doing a ‘Health Care Professional’s’ Job?

EJ Brown — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:27:00 GMT

A hitherto inert definition embedded in the enforcement policy manual of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has me wondering what in the world the commissioners were thinking when they created the rule. The EEOC enforces the Americans...(read more)

The Time to Move Is Now

EJ Brown — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:32:00 GMT

Are you frustrated and a little scared wondering who is going to be paying your doctor and hospital bills this time next year? I am. And most people I talk to these days don't even want to think about it. That’s because they can’t see where Congress is...(read more)

Conference Update: A Speed Bump in the Future of OT Education?

EJ Brown — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:24:00 GMT

It's widely known within the profession that occupational therapy has an education "problem." The issue isn't in the quality of its academics, nor in a lack of program levels or foci. The difficulty that is arising lies in how far and wide the scope of...(read more)

RA Passes Consent Agenda, Motions on Re-licensure Model and Internat'l FW Resources

EJ Brown — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:19:00 GMT

The Representative Assembly is in full swing this week, having already voted on several measures and in discussion of several more. The assembly passed the items on Consent Agenda Y, and also voted unanimously to have the Commission on Continuing Competence...(read more)

Two Birds with One Tax?

Susan Coyle — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:17:00 GMT

The country's largest tobacco tax increase went into effect this morning, raising the tax on cigarettes from 39 cents a pack to $1.01, according to USA Today . The money from the tax reportedly will be used to fund the State Children's Health Insurance...(read more)

Results of the ADVANCE 2009 Survey of Issues Facing State Occupational Therapy Associations

EJ Brown — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:56:00 GMT

State association officers across the country who participated in a recent issues survey told us of myriad challenges they will have this year on two fronts: finding and fighting legislatve encroachment from other disciplines and keeping their own numbers up and their coffers full.

The cover story in our March 2 edition focuses on the details of these issues, some of which are new challenges from unlikely places. Many are continuing battles that have become turf wars over reimbursement as much as scope of practice.

Thirty percent of the 50 states responded to the online questionnaire, sent out in January. Virtually two-thirds of those respondents said they were monitoring or fighting athletic trainers' associations attempting to gain licensure for their profession to practice as rehab providers. Some are trying to change the definition of "athlete" to "anyone who is active" in order to claim status as a rehab provider. Vermont has already passed a law forcing insurance companies to pay ATs for such work. In many states OT associations, working with PT and speech-language pathology, have held fast the gate in initial encounters, but every year the task becomes harder. Meanwhile, recreation therapists are also pushing to be recognized as using "life activities" as tools and goals in their work, taking it beyond the leisure arena. In some places pediatric occupational therapists are losing Medicaid reimbursement.

States evaluated their goals for 2009, many wanting to work on member recruitment, retention and leadership training as well as increasing continuing education offerings. Ten percent of respondants were also in the process of trying to upgrade their practice acts to reflect
AOTA's model act.

Even when smaller states maintain a 50-percent enrollment, they don't have enough to hire legislative watchdogs. Staying informed becomes an overwhelming task. Most states still have only a 10- to 30-percent membership enrollment. To find out what you can do to help your state association, read Jill Glomstad's March 2 cover, available this week in the print and digital editions. Also look for an upcoming audio interview with an experienced OT lobbyist who will give her advice on how smaller states can keep up with legislative challenges and initiatives.