Tri-Alliance of Health and Rehabilitation Professions
The TriAlliance is the largest constituency of health and rehabilitation professionals representing the professions of occupational therapy, physical therapy, audiology and speech-language pathology. It consists of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
The TriAlliance represents a joint venture on the part of the three organizations to address issues of mutual concern and initiate, as appropriate, collective action to enhance their individual responses to major societal problems. The TriAlliance seeks to be viewed as a central source and resource for the federal government on anything affecting the three respective professions and involving issues of health, rehabilitation, and disability.
Purposes:
- Support and promote projects and activities that are in the interest of the public;
- Serve as a forum, resource, and advocate for public policy issues related to health, rehabilitation, and education;
- Provide an arena to explore and communicate interprofessional issues; and
- Provide and promote joint educational opportunities.
Representation and Governance:
The TriAlliance Steering Council consists of the presidents and executive directors/chief executive officer of AOTA, APTA, and ASHA.
Operating Policy:
All three associations must ratify a position before it becomes a position of the TriAlliance. Failure to ratify a position by all three organizations does not prevent any of the organizations from taking that position individually. The TriAlliance meets at least three times per year. The chair of the meetings rotates among the three groups.
Costs and Finances:
Costs for travel and per diem of the presidents and executive directors are borne by the respective professional associations. Other operating expenses including stationery, phone and similar items are equally shared by the respective professional associations.
ASSOCIATION FACT SHEET
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is a national professional society established in 1917 to represent the interests and concerns of occupational therapy practitioners, and to improve the quality of occupational therapy services. Currently AOTA represents more than 60,000 occupational therapists (OTs), occupational therapy assistants (OTAs), and occupational therapy students. Members reside in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 65 foreign countries.
The mission of the American Occupational Therapy Association is to support a professional community for members and to develop and preserve the viability and relevance of the profession. The organization serves the interests of its members, represents the profession to the public, and promotes access to occupational therapy services.
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is a national professional organization that represents more than 75,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students throughout the United States. Organized in 1921 in the wake of World War I, APTA's mission is to further the profession's role in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of movement of dysfunctions and the enhancement of the physical health and functional abilities of members of the public.
APTA's efforts are directed toward serving its members and the public by: promoting physical therapy care and services through the establishment, maintenance, and promotion of ethical principles and quality standards for practice, education, and research; influencing policy in the public and private sectors; enabling physical therapy practitioners to improve their knowledge, skills, and operations; developing and improving the art and science of physical therapy, including practice, education, and research; and facilitating a common understanding and appreciation for the diversity of the profession, the membership, and the communities they serve.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national scientific, professional and credentialing association for more than 96,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists.
Founded in 1925, ASHA's mission is to ensure that the more than 46 million Americans with speech, language, hearing, or related disorders have access to quality services to help them communicate more effectively. To achieve this goal, the association conducts a wide variety of activities to support its members including continuing education, journals, research, public relations and marketing materials, practice information, and legislative and regulatory advocacy, at the state and national levels.
CURRENT REPRESENTATIVES
American Occupational Therapy Association
Penelope Moyers, EdD, OTR/L, BCMH, FAOTA, President
Frederick P. Somers, Executive Director
American Physical Therapy Association
R Scott Ward, PhD, PT, President
John D. Barnes, Chief Executive Officer
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Noma Anderson, PhD, President
Arlene A. Pietranton, PhD, CAE, Executive Director (1988-present)
DEVELOPING TRIALLIANCE PROJECTS
Managed Care Project
The purpose of this project is to create a promotional campaign targeting insurance brokers, payers, "gatekeepers," and benefit managers to promote the TriAlliance professions within managed care plans. The tentative "working title" of the project is: "Influencing Managed Care Plans." APTA, AOTA, and ASHA each contributed $15,000 to fund the project, which is expected to take two years to complete. Staff from the departments of government affairs, consumer affairs, public relations, and practice from each organization make up the Managed Care Project committee. A research firm conducted four focus groups and a telephone survey to determine what kinds of information should be included in the promotional campaign. Following receipt of the firm's report and video, it was determined that educating and influencing benefit managers would be an enormous undertaking. The TriAlliance conclude that neither sufficient time nor resources for such a project were available, but that it would continue to foster exchange of information regarding each organization's activities in this area.
Patient Classification System
The TriAlliance has initiated a project to establish an accurate rehabilitation patient classification system. A TriAlliance task force comprised of member consultants with practice and/or research methodology expertise and/or experience, and one staff liaison from each organization was established. The task force is charged to develop a plan (including time lines and resource needs) for a study that would establish an accurate rehabilitation patient classification system with consideration given to coding and reimbursement implications of the system; potential funding sources, including HCFA, to be identified; and other potential partners in the study to be considered and discussed.
Alternative Payment System
At its May 1998 meeting, the TriAlliance established a working group with staff representatives from practices, governmental, and research areas to develop strategies, including working with a consulting firm(s) respected by HCFA to collect data needed to determine an alternative payment system to replace the $1500 cap by the year 2001.
For more information on the TriAlliance for Health and Rehabilitation Professions, please contact either AOTA, APTA, or ASHA.
The American Occupational Therapy Association
4720 Montgomery Lane, Post Office Box 31220
Bethesda, Maryland 20824-1220
301/652-2682
The American Physical Therapy Association
1111 N. Fairfax Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-1488
703/684-2782
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
10801 Rockville Pike
Rockville, Maryland 20852-3279
301/897-5700
The formation of TriAlliances on the state level is encouraged. State leaders are encouraged to use the TriAlliance name when addressing healthcare reform. It is suggested that the state name precede the TriAlliance name, for example, Ohio TriAlliance for Health and Rehabilitation Professions.
