Federal Legislative Issues Update- September 2009
Washington Highlights
Congress has returned from the August recess and health care reform is the main item on the congressional fall agenda. In order to have a voice, AOTA members must be heard on Capitol Hill. AOTA has multiple tools and opportunities for you to learn and advocate. Health reform has the potential to have an enormous impact on occupational therapy practice.
AOTA Capitol Hill Day Set for Monday, October 5, 2009
AOTA is deep in preparations for our annual Capitol Hill Day. More than 200 registered participants from all over the country who have committed to come to Washington and help AOTA be the voice of occupational therapy on Capitol Hill. AOTA is planning an aggressive agenda for this year’s Hill Day, including a guest speaker, a briefing from AOTA Federal Affairs staff and an afternoon Blackberry Ergonomics training by Dr. Karen Jacobs from Boston University. This year the focus of Hill Day is health reform in terms of what is important to occupational therapy.
Occupational Therapy and Health Reform Proposals
As the health reform debate continues to churn in Washington and around the country, Congress has returned to Washington to take up reform legislation. Local town hall meetings across the country demonstrated the volatility of this issue in voters’ minds and it will be interesting to see the impact on the reform process this fall. At press time President Obama was preparing to address a joint session of Congress regarding health reform, and in the Senate a bipartisan group of six senators are actively negotiating to see if there can be common ground in the health reform debate.
Keep up to date, educate yourself and take action using AOTA’s new Health Reform Hub.
Home Health Update—Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act (HR 1094)
AOTA continues to advocate for the intent of the Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act (H.R. 1094) to be included in the House version of America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200).
AOTA is currently working with committee and personal staffs from the Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means Committee to include amendment language. The next opportunity for inclusion will be in the Managers Amendment when the three Committees of Jurisdiction merge their respective proposals to bring a single bill to the House floor. Representative John Lewis (D-GA) of the Ways & Means Committee continues to lead our efforts on this initiative.
To follow this issue and support this effort please visit AOTA’s legislative action center.
AOTPAC Update
The American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC) is continuing to raise money to allow AOTA to have a political voice in Washington. Health care reform has made it critical for AOTA members to contribute to AOTPAC so AOTA can advocate specifically for proposed provisions that directly benefit occupational therapy or to oppose proposals that would negatively impact the profession and people occupational therapy practitioners serve. Go to the AOTPAC page on AOTA’s Web site today to contribute or learn more about the important work of AOTPAC.
Attention OT and OTA Students—Conclave Hill Day and PAC Night Scheduled
This year AOTA has added a new opportunity for students attending the 2009 Student Conclave. AOTA is hosting two events that will help empower OT and OTA students to become powerful advocates for their profession and themselves. On Friday, November 20, AOTA is organizing a special Hill Day for Conclave attendees to go to Washington and educate their members of Congress about occupational therapy. AOTA will provide the briefing, materials, and arrangements; YOU just need to provide the energy.
AOTPAC is also having a special PAC Night at the Student Conclave titled “Students Think They Can Dance Contest” in Baltimore on Saturday, November 21. At last year’s Annual Conference in Houston, this was an epic event with outrageous karaoke, dancing, a cash bar and snacks. If you aren’t sure, ask anyone who was there, like those 15 people from the University of Southern Maine and the very late arrivals from USC. Make your plans today to attend the best party of Conclave and make a difference for AOTPAC at the same time.
Learn more and Register on the Conclave Web page.
See you in Baltimore and DC!