THE AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION, INC. (AOTA) for THE AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION, INC. (AOTA)
What was lobbied
8 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Medicare/Medicaid MMM
S.829/H.R. 1546: Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2011 - advocate for removal of cap on occupational therapy services and passage of bills. No bill: Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR) policy - advocated for separation of occupational therapy from physical therapy/speech language pathology in applicaiton of MPPR policy. No bill: Advocated for exclusion of occuaptional therapy from any additional accreditation requirements for provision of orthotics/prosthetics. H.R. 2468: Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act - advocate for making occupational therapy an initiating service. No bill#: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule - oppose cuts to therapy services and advocate to identify alternative payment options for therapy services. H.R. 2499:Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Savings Act. Lymphedema treatment for Medicare beneficiaries - advocate for role of occupational therapy in lymphedema treatment under Medicare and support passage.. No bill #: Suport proposal for legislation to create new complex rehabilitation device benefit. Promote role of occupational therapy. H.R. 2785: Athletic Trainers Equal Access to Medicare Act - oppose. H.R. 8: American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 - advocated for extension of Medicare therapy caps exceptions process; separation of therapies under MPPR and oppose the signicant decrease in payment; and oppose fee schedule cuts to therapy.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| RALPH ERIC KOHL | — |
| CHRISTINA A METZLER | — |
| TIM P NANOF | — |
| HEATHER N PARSONS New | Deputy Chief of Staff, Rep. Brad Miller |
Health Issues HCR
No bill: Advocated regarding the benefits package for exchange health plans. Promoted coverage of occupational therapy and for broad definition of habilitation. No Bill: Advocated for inclusion of occupational therapy as a mental health profession in the National Health Services Corps. S. 850 - Autism Services and Workforce Acceleration Act, and S1132/HR 2007 - Autism Specturm Disorders Services Act of 2011 -- Advocate for mandatory coverage of occupational therapy services and educate about role of occupational therapy in treatment of autism. No bill #s-developing legislation on autism: Advocate for mandatory coverage of occupational therapy services and educate about role of occupational therapy in treatment of autism. S.786: To amend title 10, US Code to modify the Apointment and Grade of the Chief of the Army Medical Specialist Corp. - Advocate to elevate the Chief of the Medical Specialist Corps to the rank of Brigadier (1 star) General under the Army Medical Specialist Corps. No bill #: Educate members about role of occupational therapy in the effective provision of telehealth services. No bill: Advocated with Dept of Health and Human Services and Center for Disease Control regarding role of occupational therapy in fall and injury prevention. HR 3762: 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. HR 2600: National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act of 2011 - Support passage. No bill #: UN Convention on Rights for People with Disabilities - advocate for Senate to ratify.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| RALPH ERIC KOHL | — |
| CHRISTINA A METZLER | — |
| TIM P NANOF | — |
| HEATHER N PARSONS New | Deputy Chief of Staff, Rep. Brad Miller |
Veterans VET
No bill #: Educate Congress regarding occupational therapy's role working with soldiers coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues to maximize their functional performance and fully reintegrate into their lives at home and in their communities.. S. 957, H.R. 1855: Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvement Act of 2011 - educate about the important role of occupational therapy in treating these conditions and helping our wounded warriors maximize their functional reintegration into their lives, homes, and communities. Inclusion of occupational therapy as a covered service, and passage. H.R. 1832: Service Members' Telemedicine and E-Health Portability Act of 2011 - educate about occupational therapy's role in the effective provision of telehealth serivces. Inclusion of occupational therapy as a covered service, and passage. Conducted a widely attended briefing to educate on the role of rehabilitation and occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech language pathology for wounded warriors.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| RALPH ERIC KOHL | — |
| CHRISTINA A METZLER | — |
| TIM P NANOF | — |
Budget/Appropriations BUD
No bill#: Funding for older adults falls prevention under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and within the Prevention and Public Health Fund authorized in the Affordable Care Act. No bill#: General support of health and mental health programs funding, including funding for Health Resources and Services Administration and National Institutes of Health, funding for education and training for occupational therapy; and funding for disability and rehabilitation research. HR 4310 - National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2013 - Advocated for elevation of the Army Chief of the Medical Specialist Corp, (S786) and for inclusion of occupational therapy as a covered service in service members' telemedicine and e-health portability (HR1832)
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| RALPH ERIC KOHL | — |
| CHRISTINA A METZLER | — |
| TIM P NANOF | — |
| HEATHER N PARSONS New | Deputy Chief of Staff, Rep. Brad Miller |
Insurance INS
No bill: Advocated for coverage of occupational therapy under the required rehabilitation, habilitation and devices category of exchange plans. PL 111-148 - Affordable Care Act: Advocate for occupational therapy coverage under employer based insurance plans; relay concerns about inadequate survey and resulting plan done by Dept of Labor for part on therapy services. Advocate for inclusion f occupational therapy coerage in essential benefits package and for appropriate structure of Accountable Care Organizations, and payment reform.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| RALPH ERIC KOHL | — |
| CHRISTINA A METZLER | — |
| TIM P NANOF | — |
Education EDU
No bill#: Support of occupational therapy and early intervening funds included in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| RALPH ERIC KOHL | — |
| CHRISTINA A METZLER | — |
| TIM P NANOF | — |
| HEATHER N PARSONS New | Deputy Chief of Staff, Rep. Brad Miller |
Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR
S.786 To amend title 10, US Code to modify the Apointment and Grade of the Chief of the Army Medical Specialist Corp. - Advocate to elevate the Chief of the Medical Specialist Corps to the rank of Brigadier (1 star) General under the Army Medical Specialist Corps. H.R. 531 - Access to Frontline Health Act: Advocate for passage to provide loan repayments to occupational therapists in exchange for providing services for 2 years in designated scarcity area and to address health care workforce shortages.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| RALPH ERIC KOHL | — |
| CHRISTINA A METZLER | — |
| TIM P NANOF | — |
Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs MED
No bill #: Advocate for disability and rehabilitation prioirities of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, espcially regarding comparative effectiveness research. Advocate for elevation of the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research within the National Institutes of Health. HR 2600: National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act of 2011 - Support passage. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) - Advocated for increased capacity building for Institute related reserch. Met with Alan E. Guttmacher, M.D.,-- Director of NICHD and Michael Weinrich, MDDirector of NCMRR.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| RALPH ERIC KOHL | — |
| CHRISTINA A METZLER | — |
| TIM P NANOF | — |
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.