The Future of the COTA
Healthcare reform, the economic depression, reduced insurance reimbursements, Medicare and Medicaid cutbacks, how will this affect the future of the COTA?
Some people are quite nervous right now, thinking that Obama's healthcare reform will eliminate the COTA position. Others are worried that the reduced reimbursement rates will decrease salaries. Some have indicated that continued layoffs and company closings would reduce caseloads, thereby reducing the number of hours available to work. And several prospective students have written me recently asking if they should still consider enrolling in an OTA program, will there be a need in the future?
Well, just as I told one person, job security does not seem to be a part of American language anymore. I can't predict the future but I do have a few thoughts from the trends I've seen.
Today, companies close and relocate for economic gain leaving hundreds of people unemployed. Most are also left with no healthcare, placing further strain on an already tight public system. With fewer people able to afford medical benefits, including therapy, this does indicate fewer jobs.
This is where healthcare reform would change the future. With healthcare for all, medical treatments would probably increase as more people are able to utilize the system. More people using the system mean more jobs. That's good, however as I see it, to maintain financial control rates will be set for every treatment much the same as we have now with CPT codes. But I also expect to see these rates reduced to a figure lower than current levels, significantly decreasing payment for therapy. Less reimbursement indicates reduced salaries.
Next we have cutbacks on Medicare funding looming in the near future. Stricter policies on treatment minute calculation, effectively forcing one-on-one treatments. This will make productivity fall, and require more therapists to see the same caseload. More staff with the same reimbursement sounds like there has to be a cut somewhere. I predict salaries will take another hit when this takes effect, or possibly sooner.
So no, I don't see healthcare reform or reimbursement cuts eliminating the COTA position. I believe that there will be an increase in the number of COTA jobs in the future, but again more than likely at a reduced salary from today's level. This could be the determining factor of the COTA future though. If salaries are cut to a point that it no longer is economically feasible to obtain a two year degree to earn just a bit more than your local hamburger flipper, no one will enter the field and it will slowly die.
Until next time, hope all your "Thoughts" are Good-
Tim