Federal Legislative Issues Update - Aug 2006
August 2006
Washington Highlights
Congress is in recess until September 5, 2006. With the full House of Representatives and one third of the Senate up for election, lawmakers will spend August in their districts campaigning for the November elections. Congress will return after Labor Day for a short legislative agenda before recessing again in October.
AOTA urges its membership to use the next 3 months to communicate with their members of Congress. Several issues important to AOTA and its membership need to be addressed this fall, and AOTA staff needs your grassroots efforts to be successful. Use the AOTA Advocacy Tools to become more politically active during August and October recesses.
Join AOTA in Washington on September 5 or any time during September, October, or November.Contact AOTA's Federal Affairs Department to learn what you can do to promote the profession of occupational therapy at 1-800-SAY-AOTA or fad@aota.org
New IDEA Part B Regulations Released
On August 3, 2006, the Department of Education announced the release of the new IDEA Part B regulations related to the reauthorization of IDEA in 2004. The release was announced at an invitation-only press event attended by AOTA Federal Affairs staff. The event was held at the Department of Education and presided over by Secretary Margaret Spellings and Assistant Secretary John Hager of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS).
The new regulations will be published in the Federal Register on August 14, 2006, but the complete regulations are currently available in the Advocacy section.
Check the AOTA Legislative Action Center and the IDEA Information Center on AOTA's Web site for additional information, analysis, and resources as they become available.
AOTA Pushes for Therapy Cap Extension
August and September are critical months for achieving action on the Medicare cap for 2007. AOTA staff continues to work with membership, members of Congress, their staffs, and other provider groups to extend the therapy cap exceptions process for 2007 and 2008. The therapy cap exceptions process was passed in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171). This exceptions process is only for 2006, and if Congress does not take action before December 31, 2006, the $1,740 cap on occupational therapy services under Medicare Part B will be implemented. Your help is critical—please contact your members of Congress today and encourage them to act now to extend the exceptions process. Without this grassroots support, Congress will not feel pressured to act on the cap.
AOTA and the TriAlliance (AOTA, American Physical Therapy Association, and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) have had success bringing attention to the issue this summer by authoring an organizational sign-on letter to House and Senate leadership that gained over 40 signers. Sponsors of the House and Senate therapy cap repeal legislation, the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2005 (S. 438/H.R. 916), also authored a letter to House and Senate leadership in June that gained significant support by members of Congress. Both letters focused on ensuring action by Congress to extend the therapy cap exceptions process until at least 2007.
Learn more about what you can do to promote the occupational therapy agenda by contacting AOTA's Federal Affairs Department. Go to the AOTA Legislative Action Center to contact your member of Congress and urge his or her support for this extension.
Stay tuned to the AOTA Web site and AOTA Legislative Action Center in September for a call-in number to Congress that AOTA will be doing in collaboration with the TriAlliance. Also, get information about the AOTA Annual Capitol Hill Day Kick-Off on September 5, 2006, and plan to attend!
AOTA Annual Capitol Hill Day Kick-Off: September 5, 2006
Come join your colleagues for a day of promoting occupational therapy on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on September 5, 2006. Participants will meet at AOTA headquarters at 8:00 a.m. on September 5 for the Kick-Off, and will get ready for a day of lobbying with coffee, juice, muffins, and bagels. A briefing on issues and logistics of the day (travel, meetings, etc.) will begin at 8:15 and end by 10:00 a.m. Participants will then take the Metro (subway) to Capitol Hill to begin meetings at 11:00-11:30a.m. All participants are encouraged to set up their own meetings, but like last year, AOTA staff is willing and able to help. After your meetings that day, you are on your own and free to do whatever you want.
Last year's Capitol Hill Day Kick-Off brought in over 30 practitioners and educators from all over the country. Also, nearly 100 AOTA members and students came to AOTA headquarters and Capitol Hill to lobby Congress on other days after the kick-off.
Contact Dan Jones in AOTA's Federal Affairs Department with any questions and to RSVP at 1-800-SAY-AOTA or djones@aota.org. If you are unable to make the September 5 Kick-Off, work with AOTA staff to come any time in September. We look forward to seeing you in September! Read more on the AOTA Legislative Action Center.
AOTPAC
The board of directors of the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC) set a goal to raise $225,000. They are slightly less than halfway to that goal and need the help of all AOTA members. This is an election year and and we have much work to do between now and the November 7 general elections to promote occupational therapy. To make it easier, AOTA members can now contribute online via the AOTA Web site.
Help AOTPAC reach its legislative and political goals by making a contribution today. Even if you have already contributed, if you can give just a little more, it will go a long way to keeping occupational therapy in the policy spotlight!
AOTA Becomes a National Outreach Partner With the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
AOTA has recently been listed as a partner of NIMH in its National Outreach Partnership program. AOTA joins roughly 80 other national organizations in an effort to improve the dissemination of research and practice initiatives of NIMH. Becoming a national partner also raises the profile of occupational therapy in the fields of mental health practice and research, and provides AOTA with additional points of contact with NIMH.
As part of the partnership, AOTA receives requests for comments on NIMH initiatives and increased opportunity for our members to engage in a dialogue with NIMH's leadership, thereby increasing awareness of occupational therapy's role in mental health. Our goal is to promote research that will lead to evidence-based practices in mental health. Additional information about the Outreach Partnership can be found on the NIMH Web site.
AOTA Provides Testimony Related to S-CHIP and NCLB
AOTA Federal Affairs staff have been actively ensuring that the voice of occupational therapy is heard by Congress through submission of statements for the record of Congressional hearings.
On July 12, 2006, Federal Affairs staff submitted a statement to the House Education and the Workforce Committee's hearing on No Child Left Behind: Ensuring High Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students and Students with Disabilities. The statement discussed the role of occupational therapy in helping all students reach their academic potential, with a special focus on students with disabilities and English language learners.
On July 26, AOTA submitted comments to the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health related to its hearing on state Child Health Insurance Programs, known as CHIP or S-CHIP. The testimony supported the program and highlighted the role of occupational therapy under the plans.
Copies of both statements are available on the Advocacy page under the Testimony and Statements to Congress section.
Backpack Day Gives Opportunity To Raise Awareness
National School Backpack Awareness Day is fast approaching. This year's event will be held on Wednesday, September 20. AOTA uses Backpack Day as a tool to raise awareness of the profession and provide outreach to the local community.
The event is also a great vehicle for reaching out to elected officials. By planning a Backpack Day event and inviting local, state, or federal officials, you can show them firsthand how occupational therapy improves lives.
To plan and register your Backpack Day event, point your Web browser to the AOTA Web site at www.aota.org and follow the link at the top of the page.
Traumatic Brain Injury Act
On July 17, 2006 the Traumatic Brain Injury Act (TBIA) of 2006 was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA). The legislation-which is a companion to S. 3668, sponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA)-will reauthorize the TBI Act programs for 5 more years and will make some important improvements to address emerging issues in brain injury. The House bill has gained significant support by adding 66 cosponsors very quickly and there is an effort to pass this legislation before Congress breaks again in October to campaign in preparation for the November elections. AOTA supports reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act and is engaged in efforts to pass the legislation through our participation in the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities and in cooperation with the Brain Injury Association of America.
AOTA Releases Statement on the Role of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health
AOTA has recently posted a statement on mental health, approved by the Representative Assembly during AOTA's Annual Conference & Expo in Charlotte, NC. The statement clarifies the role of occupational therapy in mental health. It will be used as a guide to focus the Association's efforts to expand the role and stature of occupational therapy as a mental health profession. The statement was presented by Federal Affairs staff at the most recent National Institute of Mental Health Advisory Council session and was well received by the Director, Dr. Tom Insel.
Keeping Seniors Safe From Falls Bill Introduced in the House of Representatives
A House version of the Keeping Seniors Safe From Falls Act (H.R. 5608) was recently introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX) and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ). The new bill is an identical companion to the Senate bill (S. 1531) introduced last summer by Senators Enzi (R-WY) and Mikulski (D-MD). AOTA supports passage of this legislation and is working independently and in coordination with the Falls Free Coalition to educate Congress about the value of the legislation. AOTA is a member of the Falls Free Coalition and was a leader in the Falls Free Summit held in December 2004 that resulted in the Falls National Action Plan on the National Council on Aging Web site.
The Keeping Seniors Safe From Falls Act (S. 1531/H.R. 5608) directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand and intensify programs with respect to research and related activities concerning falls of elderly people. It offers a national approach to reducing falls among older adults, which focuses on the daily life of senior citizens in residential, institutional, and community settings. Occupational therapy is a natural partner in this effort.
Occupational Therapy Discussed in the Congressional Record
During the course of legislative sessions, Members of Congress have the opportunity to discuss issues of interest and importance to them and their constituents. Recently two members of the House addressed issues related to occupational therapy.
On July 11 Rep. Bilirakis (R-FL) raised the issue of autism and discussed the impact of the disorder and treatment on one of his constituents and the family. Rep. Bilirakis pointed out the need for intensive occupational therapy for children with autism. He also declared his support for the Combating Autism Act (H.R. 2421) sponsored by Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA), which has passed the Senate and is awaiting House action.
On July 24, in recognition of the contribution of State Veterans Homes to the quality of life of veterans, Rep. Larson (D-CT) discussed newly obtained funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs that will build a department of occupational and physical therapy in a veterans facility in Connecticut.
These comments were not requested by AOTA but clearly demonstrate the effectiveness with which AOTA staff, members, and occupational therapy clients have educated Congress about the profession and the importance of occupational therapy for helping people lead productive, independent, and satisfying lives. Read the full comments of Rep. Bilirakis.
Private Health Insurance 101
In this new, free narrated slide tutorial by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Karen Pollitz, research professor at Georgetown University, provides an overview of the private health insurance system. She discusses basic concepts that are important in understanding private health insurance and how it works, such as risk spreading/risk selection, pluralism, costs, coverage, and regulation. Tutorial slides can be downloaded.
Do you have a grassroots advocacy story to tell? Do you know or have a connection to your Senators or Representatives? Contact AOTA's Federal Affairs Department and share your experience! E-mail: fad@aota.org, Mail: PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220, Telephone: 800-729-2682, or Fax: 301-652-7711.
Last Update: 8/14/06