|
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Fellow Occupational Therapy Practitioners,
Summer is here, the birds are chirping, some summer trips are planned with our families, and hopefully we continue to be thankful to have an opportunity to do work that we find fulfilling and that helps individuals meet their maximum potential through purposeful activities.
Life couldn’t be any better. . . right? Well . . . yes and no.
We can get into the modes that I refer to as the “Occupational Therapy happy bubble”. We go to work and teach people how to live life to the fullest, but we are oblivious to the policies and legislative issues that surround our profession at a state and a national level. We just hope that we have a job to return to so that we can be satisfied professionally and be able to live comfortable lives that include these summer trips with our family.
But today, my goal is to pop your Occupational Therapy happy bubble. By doing so, I want to make you aware that your legislative financial support (Fair Share) and IOTA membership is needed, and that IOTA is in need of your time and commitment to the Idaho Occupational Therapy Association as a member of the Executive Board; something which very few practitioners ever consider. Without board members, we wouldn’t have the advocacy, continuing education, or legislative support to sustain our profession in the state of Idaho. The national and state professional associations really do sustain our jobs and how we can practice.
This isn’t meant to frighten, but empower. If you have been frustrated about policies, have a cause that is important to you, or simply have great ideas, we want you. If you love your job and feel like it is important for Idaho Occupational Therapy practitioners to keep their job, we want you. If you want to join but don’t know why, guess what, we want you. All current executive board members have families, busy lives, extra-curricular activities, but make the time to serve our profession. You can too!
Currently, we have 2 positions open, President-elect and Secretary. In October, we will have four open positions. Please volunteer! WE NEED YOU!
Lacey Osgood, MOTR/L, ATP
President
Executive Board positions and terms of office
At this time, we are looking for nominations for the offices elected in even numbered years. These officers would serve from 2010 to 2012:
President-elect
Vice President
Treasurer
Reimbursement Chair
Serving for one year terms, we seek the following candidates:
MOT Student Representative
OTA Student Representative
We also have the following positions vacant in 2010:
President-elect
Secretary
To self-nominate or to recommend a nominee, please send a message to the Nominating Committee, Chair Aine Keith Brain.
License renewal and the Occupational Therapy Licensure Board
The Occupational Therapy Licensure Board (OTLB) of Idaho is nearing its first year anniversary as a self-regulating board under the Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses (IBOL). IOTA sends a big thank you to the OTLB members:
Michael Spero, OTR/L, Chair
Corwin Sutherin, MTD, OTR/L
Caren DeAngelis, MS, OTR/L, CHT
Diann Davis Martin, COTA/L
Ione Springer, Public member
On June 18-21, the IBOL will be moving their offices to 700 W. State Street.
License renewal is currently taking place. All licensed OT practitioners should have received their renewal notices by this time. If you have not received one please contact oct@ibol.idaho.gov immediately.
Rules Governing Occupational Therapy in Idaho
One of the first orders of business for the OTLB was to write rules that interpreted the Idaho Occupational Therapy Practice Act. The OTLB drafted temporary and permanent rules that were adopted by the Idaho State Legislature on March 29, 2010.
Some changes that you should be aware of:
There are new rules regarding supervision including direct line-of-sight supervision of aides in the practice of occupational therapy and a graduated level of supervision for occupational therapy assistants based on their years of practice. Additionally, occupational therapists are limited in the number of OTAs, aides and students they may supervise at one time.
Therapists using physical agent modalities in their practice must now hold the designation of Certified Hand Therapist or qualify in Idaho as an advanced practitioner. An advanced practitioner is an occupational therapist who has completed 30 hours of advanced training in physical agent modalities, 15 hours of advanced training in wound care, and completed 160 hours of supervision.
All licensed occupational therapy practitioners must now complete at least 2 IOTA/AOTA approved CEUs plus 10 contact hours of continuing education every two years.
Please read the Rules Governing Occupational Therapy here.
We are pleased to report, responding to an issue that arose at the IOTA Annual Conference, the OTLB is recommending a change to allow advanced occupational therapy assistants to perform physical agent modalities in home health settings under general supervision. The temporary rule should become effective within several months.
Physical Agent Modalities Course
Recognizing the need for occupational therapy practitioners to receive continuing education necessary for an advanced practitioner, IOTA has arranged for Weekend A of the Physical Agents Modalities (PAMs) course to be held in Boise on July 31- August 1, 2010.
Weekend A will provide 15 contact hours or 1.5 IOTA/AOTA CEUs. Participants in this class will help determine when Weekend B will be held and they will receive a discount to participate in Weekend B.
Find out more about the PAMs Course and register online now.
Please be aware
Some employers may transfer work previously performed by occupational therapists to physical therapists in order to avoid this licensure requirement.
Do not let this happen to you! If you use PAMs in your practice or would like to, please find a way to participate in this course. IOTA can bill your employer and will try to help with payment arrangements if necessary. Please call the office to learn more: 208.388.4682.
Medicaid budget cuts
As you are probably aware, Idaho Health and Welfare has been ordered to make cuts to Medicaid. The impact to occupational therapy through this proposed reduction is .22% or $156,000.
Inpatient and outpatient rehab, developmental disability agencies and school-based services are also facing cuts; however, state associations were not allowed to comment directly to their reduction during a Medicaid sponsored meeting.
Instead, all are encouraged to make recommendations to Medicaid via this survey: www.medicaidneedsyourideas.dhw.idaho.gov. Please make your suggestions before July 1.
Aides in school based settings
According to information on the Idaho Health & Welfare website, Medicaid rules have been revised (please see service coordination on right of page) to reflect the changes in OT, PT, and SP legislation. IOTA is in discussion with Medicaid to be certain that their understanding of the statute is as written.
IOTA is also very excited that AJ Jaques, OTR/L has joined the Executive Board as our Reimbursement Chair. You can email reimbursement or scope of practice questions to AJ here.
Interesting Links
IOTA Annual Conference
Occupational Therapy Licensure Board of Idaho
Idaho Medicaid Providers page
Idaho State University Occupational Therapy Program
IOTA on Facebook
OT Connections at AOTA – you don’t have to be a member to participate
AOTA Health Care Reform Hub and Legislative Action Center |
