AOTA Updates

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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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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