1st Quarter - Report

THE AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION, INC. (AOTA) for THE AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION, INC. (AOTA)

Firm
Client
Income
—
Expenses
$200,000
Expense method
A: Lobbying Disclosure Act definitions

What was lobbied

8 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.

Budget/Appropriations BUD

None

LobbyistCovered position, as disclosed
TIMOTHY CASEY —
CHRISTINA A METZLER —
HEATHER N PARSONS —
JOHN R RAY —

Contacted: Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE

Insurance INS

None

LobbyistCovered position, as disclosed
TIMOTHY CASEY —
CHRISTINA A METZLER —
HEATHER N PARSONS —
JOHN R RAY —

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Education EDU

No bill Number - Senator Alexander's discussion draft to fix No Child Left Behind: advocated for use of Title I funds for multi-tiered systems of support, inclusion of a one percent limit on the number of students taking alternative assessments on alternative standards and inclusion of specialized instructional support personnel through this bill. No bill number - Every Child Achieves Act: Support use of Title I funds for multi-tiered systems of support, inclusion of a one percent limit on the number of students taking alternative assessments on alternative standards and inclusion of specialized instructional support personnel. HR 1761 - Occupational Therapy Mental Health Act: advocate passage to make occupational therapists eligible to participate in the National Health Service Corps' scholarship and loan repayment program as behavioral and mental health professionals. Advocate in the Senate for introduction of the Occupational Therapy Mental Health Act - companion to HR 1761-and as part of any larger mental health bill that should be introduced. H. Res 183 - National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Awareness Week: Support passage.

LobbyistCovered position, as disclosed
TIMOTHY CASEY —
CHRISTINA A METZLER —
HEATHER N PARSONS —
JOHN R RAY —

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Bills named: H.R. 1761 (114th), H.Res. 183 (114th)

Health Issues HCR

HR 1761 - Occupational Therapy Mental Health Act: advocate passage to make occupational therapists eligible to participate in the National Health Service Corps' scholarship and loan repayment program as behavioral and mental health professionals. Advocate in the Senate for introduction of the Occupational Therapy Mental Health Act (companion to HR 1761)- and as part of any larger mental health bill that should be introduced. HR 691 - Telehealth Modernization Act of 2015: Educate about how occupational therapy can be utilized in telehealth. HR 1707 - Access to Frontline Health Care Act: Support passage of bill including loan forgiveness for occupational therapy practitioners practicing in shortage areas. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration: Discussed inclusion of OT in the staffing requirements for the Section 223 criteria included in the "Excellence in Mental Health Act."

LobbyistCovered position, as disclosed
TIMOTHY CASEY —
CHRISTINA A METZLER —
HEATHER N PARSONS —
JOHN R RAY —

Contacted: SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Bills named: H.R. 691 (114th), H.R. 1761 (114th), H.R. 1707 (114th)

Veterans VET

HR 203/S 167 - Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act: Support overall bill, including provisions to encourage veteran's to achieve degrees in mental health fields, including occupational therapy. (Became PL 114-2)

LobbyistCovered position, as disclosed
TIMOTHY CASEY —
CHRISTINA A METZLER —
HEATHER N PARSONS —
JOHN R RAY —

Contacted: Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 203 (114th)

Medicare/Medicaid MMM

HR 775/S 539 - Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act: Advocate for removal of cap on occupational therapy services and support passage. HR 1516 - Ensuring Access and Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act of 2015: Advocate for inclusion of occupational therapy professionals as providers of complex rehabilitation technology. HR 1608 - Lymphedema Treatment Act: Support passage and educate about role of occupational therapy services. HR 729 - Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2015: Support passage and education about role of occupational therapy services. HR 2 - Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act: Advocate to include full repeal of the cap on Medicare Part B Outpatient therapy, including occupational therapy. Support for SGR provision. HR 1458 - Bundling and Coordinating Post-Acute Care Act of 2015 (BACPAC Act of 2015): Provide information on occupational therapy's role in bundled payment.

LobbyistCovered position, as disclosed
TIMOTHY CASEY —
CHRISTINA A METZLER —
HEATHER N PARSONS —
JOHN R RAY —

Contacted: SENATE; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 775 (114th), H.R. 1458 (114th), H.R. 1516 (114th), H.R. 1608 (114th), H.R. 729 (114th), H.R. 2 (114th)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

HR 1707 - Access to Frontline Health Care: Advocate for passage to provide loan repayments to occupational therapists in exchange for providing services for two years in designated scarcity area and to address health care workforce shortages. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration: Discussed inclusion of OT in the staffing requirements for the Section 223 criteria included in the "Excellence in Mental Health Act."

LobbyistCovered position, as disclosed
TIMOTHY CASEY —
CHRISTINA A METZLER —
HEATHER N PARSONS —
JOHN R RAY —

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); SENATE

Bills named: H.R. 1707 (114th)

Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs MED

HR 1631/S 800 - Enhancing the Stature and Visibility of Medical Rehabilitation Research at NIH Act: Advocate to improve coordination and enhance rehabilitation research at the National Institutes of Health. Support passage.

LobbyistCovered position, as disclosed
TIMOTHY CASEY —
CHRISTINA A METZLER —
HEATHER N PARSONS —
JOHN R RAY —

Contacted: SENATE; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 1631 (114th)

Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.