AOTA Members Promote OT in Health Reform Debate
As the health care reform debate heats up, AOTA members are engaging their elected officials at town hall meetings and other forums, and advocating for consumers and for public policies that will meet the health and participation needs of people of all ages. AOTA encourages you to join in the debate, express yourself, ask questions, and help move your profession forward. Follow the actions of your Board members and other leaders who are actively working to keep occupational therapy in the policy spotlight and address concerns about the proposals.
- AOTA President Penelope Moyers Cleveland has issued invitations over the past several months to all members in her area to join her at town hall meetings for Alabama Representatives Artur Davis (D) and Spencer Bachus (R). Moyers Cleveland has been active in developing relationships with her Members of Congress and wanted to encourage other AOTA members to feel comfortable advocating side by side with her.
- AOTA Board member Paul Fontana brought Congress to his place of business. Fontana invited his representative, Charles Boustany (R), of Louisiana to come to the Fontana Center to meet with local community members and answer people’s questions about health care reform.
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- Another AOTA Board member, Sheri Montgomery, was given an opportunity to advocate with her senator, Mike Enzi (R), at an event in Wyoming, with her participation sponsored by AOTPAC. Montgomery met with the Senator and his staff during a fly fishing health trip, and had the chance to discuss key health reform issues over dinner.
- Treasurer Saburi Imara has been meeting with the staff of her U.S. representative, John Lewis (D), to promote a key issue for occupational therapy—expanding the role of occupational therapy in home health—at his district office.
- Board member Janet Neely attended a recent Healthcare Reform Conference in Nashville, TN, to extol the value of Occupational Therapy to an audience of physicians, nursing professionals, consumers and community and political activists.
- Board member Thom Fisher created an opportunity when opportunity knocked. His senator, Evan Bayh (D), was speaking at a jobs fair across the hallway from his faculty’s meeting room. He took the initiative and invited the Senator to cross the hall to the faculty meeting, where they had a very positive discussion about occupational therapy and health care reform.
- SIS leaders Missy Zaharansky and Asha Asher both have reached out to their political leaders. Zaharansky is working through a friend (who volunteers in the member’s campaign) to develop an opportunity to meet with her member of Congress, Betty Sutton (D), over an informal lunch. She is also working through the staff to make sure the home health language gets included in any bill that passes. Asher was in Washington with her family and contacted AOTA to help her visit offices on Capitol Hill. She met with several staff but also had the opportunity, through AOTPAC, to have dinner with Senator Sherrod Brown (D).
- President-elect Florence Clark attended a Health Care Reform Town Hall meeting hosted by Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA). Dr. Clark was able to engage the Congressman and advocate for the inclusion of occupational therapy in the services in any health plans developed as a result of the health care reform process. View the video of this Town Hall meeting here.
- Paula Kramer attended a Health Care Town Hall with Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) and followed up on that event again to discuss issues important to occupational therapy and health care in general.
Many other AOTA members all across the country are attending town hall meetings or at least communicating with their members of Congress about health care reform. With the intensity of some of the town hall meetings, some representatives are opting for telephone forums. Whatever the method, you have a right and responsibility to share your ideas and concerns.
AOTA is currently focused on including an improved role for occupational therapy in prevention, chronic care management, home care, and in children’s services in the health care reform debate. AOTA has not taken a position on any of the bills specifically, but is working to assure access and affordability, inclusion of mental health services, and prevention of discrimination in the provision of health care.
Your voice is important. Use the AOTA Legislative Action Center to learn all the views and happenings. Hear your lobbyists on podcasts explaining the wide and varied dimensions of health care reform politics and policy. Join in the discussion on the health care reform forum on OT Connections where all opinions are welcome, questions are answered, and the latest news is shared. Send questions to the Federal Affairs Department at fad@aota.org.
Health care is a massive part of the nation’s economy and of our social fabric. Change will mean intended, unintended, surprising, valuable, and important consequences. AOTA’s mission is to make sure occupational therapy thrives in whatever comes, working with you now to shape your future in the mold of the Centennial Vision. Join in!