Week 6: Professional Imperative for Advocacy: Dr. Michael Urban

Question 1

What is the charge of the AOTA Congressional Affairs committee?

Answer 1

• Monitors and lobbies the U.S. congress and selected federal agencies
• Monitor and influence public policy initiatives
• Hosts and plans annual AOTA Hill Day

Question 2

What is the AOTA Political Action Committee (AOTPAC)? What does it do?

Answer 2

• Contributes money to political candidates who support O T.
• Contributes campaign money to OTs, OTAs, or OT students who are running for public office.
• It is a Separate Segregated Fund.
• No AOTA dues go towards AOTPAC.
• Can solicit contributions from AOTA members only and under strict guidelines.
• Complete funding transparency
• OpenSecrets.org * Contribution Limits:
• $5000 limit for donors to a PAC
• $5000 limit from PAC to each candidate

Question 3

What historical legislation influenced OT practice overall?

Answer 3

• 1965- Medicaid and Medicare - LBJ - OT before medicare was a small profession and was provided by hospitals at their cost so the breadth and extent of services was limited.

1975 - Individuals with disabilities education act

mandated OT as a mandatory service for those who need it from birth- high school. - Created tons of jobs in OT. Now it’s 40% Peds. Federal

legislation listed OT in the law.

• States started to pass laws licensing OT. NY was one of the first states to

do this.

Question 4

What is value-based care and why is it important?

Answer 4

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMS)
* Phasing out of fee-for-service payment models
* Patients over Paperwork initiative
* Reduce burden, improve efficiencies, improve experience
* Meaningful Measures
* Quality Reporting Program
* Financial incentives to reward adopting best practices
* Value-Based Purchasing Programs

Question 5

What are some of the ways OT students can advocate for the profession?

Answer 5

• Advocacy day
• Send letters to representatives
• Explain the profession to people