9-17-10
Hundreds of Occupational Practitioners Visit Congress to be Part of the Health Care Solution
Bethesda, MD — More than 300 occupational therapy practitioners and students will visit Congress members, discussing how OT, combined with other services and interventions, is a way for people of all ages to live life to its fullest.
Eliminating the Medicare Outpatient Therapy Cap, protecting occupational therapy reimbursement, and educating Congress as to how occupational therapy plays a role in the healthcare solution are topics to be discussed.
The American Occupational Therapy Association’s new president, Dr. Florence Clark, is scheduled to address the group after welcome remarks from AOTA Executive Director Frederick Somers. Clark, current associate dean, chair, and professor in the Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California, is best known for her publication of the Well Elderly Study, showing that occupational therapy services for seniors without disabilities could enhance their function and quality of life. This was the first occupational therapy study to appear in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
AOTA urges Congress to pass the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act (S.46/H.R. 43), which seeks to repeal therapy caps implemented by the Balance Budget Act of 1997.
WHEN: Monday, September 20, 8:30-10 a.m.
WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building, Welcome and Address followed by Congressional office visits.
WHY: When people describe “healthy” it usually means being able to DO things: working despite conditions of age or disability, showing interest in the world, and possessing energy and vitality. All of these descriptions involve daily life activities that contribute to quality of life, which is the focus of occupational therapy intervention. Occupational therapy is a pathway for people of all ages to live life to its fullest.
Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the professional interests and concerns of more than 140,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, go to www.aota.org.
CONTACT: Beth Mullen
(301) 652-6611 x 2963
praota@aota.org
