Dear

Members-

On Friday, November 8, 2013, MAOT held its annual Conference.

At this event, Lisa Simonetti, the MAOT Lobbyist, and Karen Hefler, MAOT Government Relations Representative, reported on the current legislative happenings related to Occupational Therapy practice.

Legislative Activity 2013-2014 Session

Testimonies submitted:

• Testimony In Support Of House Bill 435 Of The 188th General Court Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts: An Act Relative To The Consideration Of Ergonomically Designed School Buildings
• Testimony In Conditional Support Regarding House Bill 176 Of The 188th General Court Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts: An Act Establishing A Board Of Registration In Physical Therapy (MAOT also submitted House Bill 2079 in 2009 to separate into three separate boards)

Testimonies pending:

• Testimony In Support Of Senate Bill 1787 Of The 188th General Court Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts: Resolve Providing For An Investigation And Study By A Special Commission Relative To The Need For Accessible Homes For The Elderly, Returning Veterans With Disabilities And Families That Include Persons With Disabilities
• Testimony In Support of Senate Bill 494 Of The 188th General Court Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts: An Act to Make Habilitative Services Available To The Children Of The Commonwealth-Hearing Scheduled 11/13/13 @ 1 p.m..
• Testimony In Support of House Bill 993 Of The 188th General Court Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts: An Act Relative To Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants In The Treatment Of Autism-Hearing Scheduled 11/13/13 @ 1 p.m.
• Testimony In Support of House Bill 3724 Of The 188th General Court Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts: An Act To Prevent Concussion and Head Injury.

Licensure activity:

• Updated licensure regulations have been submitted to Massachusetts Board of Registration in Allied Health Professionals. Still awaiting final drafts and public hearing.
  For more information on the Board of Allied Health Professionals, go to
  http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/ah/
• Two letters sent to Massachusetts Board of Registration in Allied Health Professionals in January and March 2013 about delay in regulations
• Attended board meeting in May 2013-OT and AT regulations are done, PT regulations are 80% done. There will be a review by the entire Massachusetts Board of Registration in Allied Health Professionals, and then regulations are sent to the Office of Consumer Affairs, and then out for public review and comment.
• Requested copies of meeting minutes from 23 board meetings and subcommittee meetings. Received packet, no minutes for 9 of the meetings (either meetings did not occur or minutes are missing). Information in minutes is minimalist.
• Will attend next Massachusetts Board of Registration in Allied Health Professionals meeting that has licensure on agenda.
• There is an open position for an Occupational Therapy Assistant on the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Allied Health Professionals. Members of the boards of registration are appointed by the Governor and serve on a voluntary basis. Board members serve for a term of three years.
  
  Currently there is no representation for OTA's on this Board. If you are interested in serving, please here is the link to apply:
  http://license.reg.state.ma.us/public/dpl_board_members/bm_main.asp?bm_nav=AH

Networking with Mass PT Association and Mass AT Association:

• Met with PT President and PT Lobbyist at State House, contacted AT President and AT Government Relations Rep
• Follow up email to PT and AT regarding networking, developing cooperative approach to licensure board, co-sponsoring bills

Health Care Reform/Access to Health Care:

• The impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will cause minimal changes to Massachusetts residents since we were the leaders in Mandated Health Insurance since 2006.
• OT services were then and are now considered essential and therefore covered.
• Mental health parity is still an issue.
• Massachusetts is on the next track of global or bundled payment to reduce costs and we will keep you appraised of these developments. For more information on legislative matters, go to
  
  http://www.malegislature.gov or
  Contact Karen Hefler, OTR/L, MAOT Government Relations Representative, info@maot.org