Update Regarding AOTA Governance

AOTA RA Proposed Restructuring

The AOTA Governance Taskforce presented their proposed restructuring of the bylaws, including the restructuring of the AOTA Representative Assembly (RA), at the AOTA 2022 Inspire Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas from March 28-April 2. The proposed aim of these changes is to increase the diversity, flexibility, and efficiency of the RA as well as to increase membership participation. In addition, the task force and AOTA Board of Directors shared they hope that restructuring the RA will strategically include those with specific skill competencies as applicable on this representative body to address emerging practice issues and move away from the current regional (state) representation model.

The RA makeup per the proposed bylaws will be as follows:

Article X. Representative Assembly (RA)

Purpose: To examine factors that may shape the occupational therapy profession, the practice of occupational therapy, the roles and opportunities for occupational therapy practitioners in the future, and develop professional policies, standards, and/or recommendations that support
proactive action and strategy alignment in support of the profession. The Chairperson-Elect shall be elected by the membership . The Chairperson-Elect will assume the office of Chairperson for a 2-year term at the expiration of their 1-year term as Chairperson-Elect. The VDC shall propose a single qualified candidate for the position of Vice Chairperson who shall serve a 2-year term. All other members of the RA, including 23 additional members (at least one of whom must be an OTA and at least one of whom must be an OT) shall serve an appointed 2-year term and are eligible to serve two full terms.

The Representative Assembly shall have the authority to establish advisory subcommittees or task forces as necessary to carry out the purposes of the Assembly. The Assembly shall establish membership criteria for all subcommittees or task forces.

Voting will be held in June 2022 for AOTA members to vote yes or no on acceptance of these proposed bylaw changes. If you are an AOTA member, please stay alert for this vote. If approved, the anticipated transition would be expected to occur by spring of 2023.

More info can be found here about the AOTA Bylaws changes and what they mean for the RA and for members.

New AOTA Diverse Leaders Program Opportunity

An opportunity to participate in a new program, the AOTA Diverse Leaders Program, is open and now accepting applications. This 12-month opportunity provides those from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds educational opportunities to develop leadership skills. This program will seat up to seven applicants and all expenses for participants in this program will be paid for by the Sandra Hoskins Legacy Foundation, Inc. If you are interested, please see the website for details. 

Newly Approved Codes from Ohio Department of Medicaid: Advocacy at Work

Last year, concerned members of OOTA determined that CPT Code 96125 (Standardized Cognitive Performance Testing) was not a covered service for occupational therapy under Ohio Medicaid, despite being covered under Medicare, Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation, and many private insurance companies. OOTA worked to advocate for coverage of this code as well as 96127 (Brief Behavioral Assessment) to both be "turned on" under Medicaid so that occupational therapy practitioners could utilize, bill, and be reimbursed for these codes under Medicaid as they are under other payers.

In late February 2022,  we finally received good news from our efforts with the following message from Medicaid:

• 96125 and 96127 are covered by Ohio Medicaid in hospital settings. 96127 is also covered by Ohio Medicaid on the fee schedule and it is allowed for practitioners of physician services and behavioral health providers.  Going forward, ODM will add this code to the skilled therapy contract for skilled therapists.
• 96125 which is an assessment performed by a health care professional is not currently listed on the ODM professional fee schedule. Going forward, ODM will also add 96125 to the skilled therapy contract which will allow skilled therapists to bill for this service.

We hope to have these codes ready and available for use through Medicaid by the time the new managed care systems go online on July 1st. For further questions about this issue, you may contact OOTA lobbyist Danny Hurley.