AOTA and Maryland OT Association Highlight Advocacy Priorities
In September, the Maryland Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA) held its annual conference at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. AOTA State Affairs Manager Kristen Neville participated in a panel discussion on how MOTA and AOTA advocate on behalf of the occupational therapy profession. Kristen was joined by Holly Long, OTD, OTR/L, MOTA Vice President of Advocacy, and Robyn Elliott, MOTA lobbyist. The panel was moderated by Sonia Lawson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, former MOTA Vice President of Advocacy.
Kristen talked about how AOTA is monitoring the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on the states and the profession, as well as how she and her policy colleagues support state occupational therapy association advocacy priorities such as scope of practice updates, payment and reimbursement issues, and expanding the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact. Holly and Robyn discussed MOTA advocacy successes, including protecting the occupational therapy scope of practice, implementing access to habilitative services under the Affordable Care Act in Maryland, and making telehealth reimbursement for occupational therapy practitioners permanent. They highlighted that one important issue MOTA will be working on in 2027 when the Maryland legislature convenes is recognition of occupational therapy practitioners as behavioral health providers.
The presenters all explained how membership dues in MOTA and AOTA support advocacy efforts and the different ways everyone can be an occupational therapy advocate. AOTA’s policy staff works closely with each of the 52 state OT associations around the country to promote and advance the profession to policymakers and government officials and to ensure the public maintains access to occupational therapy services. More information about the state occupational therapy associations can be found on AOTA’s website.
Pictured from left to right: Sonia Lawson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Holly Long, OTD, OTR/L, Kristen Neville, and Robyn Elliott