District of Columbia Occupational Therapy Association AOTA Updates

5 Easy Ways To Advocate for OT this August

Fri, 28 Aug 2015 14:37:20 GMT

Click here for the article.
There are many ways you can be an advocate for the profession of occupational therapy and there is no better time to do this than during a Congressional recess when the Members of Congress are back at home.
Here are five easy ways you can shape the future of the profession by letting your elected representatives know about the issues that affect the profession of occupational therapy and the people we serve:
1. Write or Call Your Members of Congress: Something you can do at any time of the year is to write or call your Members of Congress and share your views on legislative issues important to the profession. You can go to AOTA’s Legislative Action Center to contact you member’s office directly, monitor current legislation, and identify your Members of Congress. Template letters are available, or, for a more personal approach, you can craft your own letter that clearly explains the issue to your legislator and what actions you would like him or her to take.
2. Attend Town Hall or Other Meetings with Your Members of Congress: During Congressional recesses, your Senators and Representative often schedule local meetings, often referred to as Town Hall Meetings. To find out about scheduled meetings, call the office of your U.S. Senators and Representative and ask to be informed of town meetings or meetings on health care. Also, you can watch the newspapers for announcements. Most of all -- Attend and speak out! Shake hands and mention your concerns and your profession. The more they hear the words occupational therapy, the more they remember it when it comes time to vote on bills.
3. Invite Your U.S. Representative and Senators to Your Workplace, Educational Institution, or another Site to See OT in Action: Of all the activities, this one makes the most lasting impression on your Members of Congress. For them to see firsthand what you do and how you help so many of their constituents, will mark your profession indelibly on their minds. This is your opportunity to shine! It is your opportunity to demonstrate how important OT is to the clients you serve - their constituents. Don’t know where to start? Here are some helpful guidelines.
4. Make a Donation to AOTPAC: If face-to-face advocacy is not your passion, but you still care deeply about the welfare of your profession, you can contribute to the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC).The purpose of AOTPAC is to further the legislative aims of AOTA by using funds to support federal public officials (U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives) who support or advocate for the profession of occupational therapy by introducing or supporting AOTA-drafted bills. Supportive legislators may also act by raising awareness about issues affecting occupational therapy by asking questions during Committee hearings and making statements for the record.
5. Register for Hill Day: If you are interested in being a face-to-face advocate, but are intimidated, or don’t know where to start, join us for Capitol Hill Day on September 28, 2015. AOTA will make all of your Congressional appointments and prepare you for the day. All you need to do is register. Registration is free! Advocate for the profession right where all of the decisions are made; learn about AOTA’s top advocacy priorities right in the Capitol Visitors Center.

CCCPD Request to Review

Mon, 24 Nov 2014 19:48:16 GMT

The AOTA Commission on Continuing Competence and Professional Development (CCCPD) is seeking feedback on two documents:

Standards for Continuing Competence and Professional Development
Initially adopted in l999, these Standards provide guidance for occupational therapy practitioners to assess and maintain competence in all the responsibilities that they assume.
                Proposed Revised Document: http://www.aota.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/EducationCareers/BSC/Standards-for-Continuing-Competence-2014-Review-DRAFT.pdf
                Feedback Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/97CN7N8

Guidelines for Re-Entry Into the Field of Occupational Therapy
Initially adopted in 2010, these Guidelines provide guidance for practitioners who have left the profession for twenty-four months or more and have chosen to return to the field and deliver services.
                Proposed Revised Document: : http://tinyurl.com/OT-ReEntry
                Feedback Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OT-ReEntry

Originals of both documents can be found on the AOTA web site in the Official Documents section.

Your feedback is requested by December 1, 2014.

AOTA BOD Issues Position Statement on Doctoral-Level Single Point of Entry for Occupational Therapists

Mon, 08 Sep 2014 15:50:44 GMT

Click here to learn more: http://www.aota.org/AboutAOTA/Get-Involved/BOD/News/2014/Doctoral-Level-Article.aspx

AOTA Announces initial analysis on Supreme Court Decision

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:34:30 GMT

The majority decision on the Affordable Care Act was released this morning. Please visit AOTA.org for continuing analysis on how this impacts occupational therapy! Click here to visit the AOTA website.

Medicare Part B: AOTA FAQ on Medicare Part B Therapy Cap Extension

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:00:05 GMT

Click HERE to read the Frequently Asked Questions provided by AOTA following a conference call with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Grant awards, an Exchange Blueprint for states and Info about Federally-facilitated exchanges

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:36:57 GMT

Quick summary of the recent news from HHS:

1)More states have secured grants from HHS to implement exchanges, see the list below
2) States must seek approval from HHS for their exchanges. Applications are due in the fall and HHS will decide by Jan 1, 2013 if they approve of the exchange which will then be able to start operations on Jan 1, 2014. HHS has a new “blueprint” for states governments to use to illustrate how their designated plan will operate. States have the option to operate their own exchange or an exchange in collaboration with the feds called partnership exchange

3) For states that choose not to operate an exchange or collaborate with HHS to operate an exchange, HHS will set up a federal exchange. HHS provide information about this topics

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120516a.html

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2012

Contact: HHs Press Office
(202) 690-6343

More states work to implement health care law
Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Washington receive grants to establish Affordable Insurance Exchanges
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Washington will receive more than $181 million in grants to help implement the new health care law. The grants will help states establish Affordable Insurance Exchanges. Starting in 2014, Affordable Insurance Exchanges will help consumers and small businesses in every state to choose a private health insurance plan. These comprehensive health plans will ensure consumers have the same kinds of insurance choices as members of Congress. Including today’s awards, 34 states and the District of Columbia have received Establishment grants to fund their progress toward building Exchanges.
HHS also issued two guidance documents today to help states build Affordable Insurance Exchanges.
“States across the country are implementing the new health care law,” said Secretary Sebelius. “In 2014, consumers in every state will have access to a new marketplace where they will be able to easily purchase affordable insurance.”
Today, the Department released:
·         New resources for states: The six new Exchange Establishment grant awards to Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Washington total more than $181 million. This round of awards brings the total of Exchange-related grants provided to states over the last two years to more than $1 billion. Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota and Tennessee today have been awarded Level One Exchange Establishment grants, which provide one year of funding to states that have begun the process of building their Exchange. Washington is the second state to be awarded a Level Two Establishment grant, which is provided to states that are further along in building their Exchange and offers funding over multiple years.
In 2010, 49 states and the District of Columbia received Exchange Planning grants totaling more than $54 million; in 2011, seven states received more than $249 million in Early Innovator grants; and to date, 34 states and the District of Columbia have received more than $856 million in Establishment grants.
States can apply for Exchange grants through the end of 2014, and these funds are available for states to use beyond 2014 as they continue to establish Exchange functionality. This ensures that states have the support and time necessary to build the best Exchange for their residents.
To see a detailed state-by-state breakdown of grant awards and what each state plans to do with its Exchange funding, visit our new map tool on HealthCare.gov -http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/05/exchanges05232011a.html
·         New guidance for states: Today’s guidance includes an Exchange Blueprint states may use to demonstrate how their Affordable Insurance Exchange will work to offer a wide range of competitively priced private health insurance options. The Blueprint also sets forth the application process for states seeking to enter into a Partnership Exchange. If a state chooses to operate its own Exchange or a Partnership Exchange, HHS will review and potentially approve or conditionally approve the Exchange no later than Jan. 1, 2013, so it can begin offering coverage on Jan. 1, 2014. To see the state Exchange Blueprint, visithttp://cciio.cms.gov/resources/other/index.html#hie
·         Exchanges in every state: Consumers in every state will have access to coverage through an Affordable Insurance Exchange on Jan. 1, 2014. If a state decides not to operate an Exchange for its residents, HHS will operate a Federally-facilitated Exchange (FFE). This guidance describes how HHS will consult with a variety of stakeholders to implement an FFE, where necessary, how states can partner with HHS to implement selected functions in an FFE, and key policies organized by Exchange function. To see the guidance on the FFEs, visithttp://cciio.cms.gov/resources/regulations/index.html#hie
The Department will conduct implementation forums in the coming months to work with states and stakeholders on their questions and the work to be done in building Exchanges. The Department will also engage in consultation with Tribes, Tribal Governments, and Tribal Organizations on how Exchanges can serve their populations.
For more information on these implementation forums, visithttp://cciio.cms.gov/resources/factsheets/index.html#hie
For more information on Exchanges, including fact sheets, visit http://www.healthcare.gov/exchanges.

Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) 2012 AOTA Fact Sheet

Wed, 02 May 2012 19:30:35 GMT

Click here to redirect to AOTA.org for more information and clarification of the Physician Quality Reporting System.

Upcoming Activities of State Health Care Reform Implementation at AOTA

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:07:58 GMT

Click here to read AOTA Health Care Reform Implementation Bi-Weekly Report Upcoming Activities (Link to AOTA, Log-in Required)

State Health Care Reform Implementation Report AOTA State Affairs Group

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:06:08 GMT

Click HERE to be directed to AOTA's State Health Care Reform Implementation Report (Redirection to AOTA's site, Log-in Required)

AOTA State Health Care Reform Implementation March 16, 2012, Bi-Weekly Report

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:03:47 GMT

Click HERE to review the Exchange Enactment Status report from AOTA.

AOTA State Health Care Reform Implementation March 30, 2012, Bi-Weekly Report Upcoming Activities

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:01:21 GMT

Alabama

On 4/04/2012 there will be a hearing on H.B. 43, which establishes the Health Care Compact and secures the consent of the United States Congress to return the authority to regulate health care to the states participating in the compact. Establishes the Interstate Advisory Health Care Commission and provides for funding to support the compact.

On 4/04/2012 there will be a hearing on H.B. 112, which prohibits health insurance coverage of elective abortions unless the insured has paid money for a separate rider. Excludes abortion coverage from being offered in the health benefit exchange by participating health plans.

California

On 4/11/2012 there will be a hearing on S.B. 961, which requires health insurers to comply with federal law on and after January 1, 2014 regarding rules established under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Requires health insurers to accept every employer and individual in the state that offers coverage. Prohibits discriminatory premium rates and against individuals on the basis of their health status. Prohibits an insurer from imposing a preexisting condition exclusion.

Maryland

On 4/05/2012 there will be a hearing on S.B. 238, which expands the operating structure of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange by, among other things, authorizing the exchange to contract with health insurance carriers in a certain manner, establishing the framework for the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Exchange, and establishing navigator programs for the SHOP and Individual exchanges. Requires SHOP Exchange navigators to be licensed, Individual Exchange navigators to be certified, and insurance producers to be authorized to sell qualified health plans (QHPs) and qualified dental plans (QDPs) in the SHOP and/or Individual exchanges. Establishes a process for selecting the benchmark plan that will serve as the standard for the essential health benefits for health benefit plans offered in the small group and individual markets, both inside and outside the exchange. Requires the Exchange to certify certain dental plans as qualified dental plans and certain vision plans as qualified vision plans. Prohibits the exchange from making available any vision plan that is not a qualified vision plan.

Oregon

The next Consumer Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled 4/6/2012. The Consumer Advisory Group has been providing input to staff to ensure the exchange is consumer-oriented, meets Oregonians' needs, and will support ongoing consumer engagement and interest. The next full Exchange Board meeting is scheduled 4/12/2012. The Oregon Health Authority has established the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Board. The Oregon Health Authority is developing a detailed plan for Oregon's health insurance exchange, based on the Oregon Health Policy Board's recommendations. Agendas are not yet available for either meeting.

Rhode Island

On 4/05/2012 there will be a Full Commission meeting held. Rhode Island is drawing upon several different groups to advise and assist with the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The Healthcare Reform Commission (Commission) was established by Executive Order 1/13/2011 by recently inaugurated Governor Lincoln Chafee (I). The Commission, particularly the Executive Committee, will make recommendations and issue reports on the implementation of the PPACA. There are also work groups that are part of the full Commission.

Tennessee

On 4/03/2012 there will be a meeting on S.J.R. 668, which urges the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to resolve a longstanding Medicare liability owed to Tennessee and all the States for Medicaid.

On 4/04/2012 there will be a meeting on H.B. 369, which enacts the Health Care Compact. Provides that each Member State, within its State, may suspend by legislation the operation of all federal laws, rules, regulations, and orders regarding Health Care that are inconsistent with the laws and regulations adopted by the Member State pursuant to this Compact. Creates the interstate advisory health care commission.

Vermont

The Agency for Human Services adopted rules creating the Vermont Blueprint for Health program. The adopted rules implement changes authorized by Act 128. The Act authorizes the Blueprint for Health (Blueprint) to move from a pilot program to a broadly implemented statewide program. The Blueprint is Vermont's program for implementing a system of health care for patients, improving the health of the overall population, and improving control over health care costs by promoting health maintenance, prevention, and care coordination and management. The Payment Implementation Group will meet 4/4/2012. The Expansion Design and Evaluation Group will meet 4/11/2012.