FOTA & Occupational Therapy News
FOTA Connect
Members can join our FOTA Connect session by registering on the member home page. Once you submit your registration for the event, you will receive the log-in information. This is a CE event, complimentary for our FOTA members.
Our next session is Wednesday, May 18 at 7:00 pm.
OT Scope of Practice Update
Florida OTs now have an updated Scope of Practice for the first time in over 20 years to better define ALL we do!! For the purpose of improving patient access to OTs and support our state OT private practitioners (and all OTs/COTAs)!
- Mental health interventions
- Health management and Wellness
- Updated definitions of OT that model our framework
- Laws regarding higher education and our doctorate/capstone
- ADLs!! (Helloooooo?! )
- And so much more!!
Thank you so much to the support of our FOTA members, Johnston and Stewart lobbying firm Anita Berry, and all of the OT leaders and students that helped along the way! This was a 6 year project now complete! Much more to do moving forward, but this change lays down the foundation to support our upcoming efforts.
See our Bill
- The Medicare OTA payment differential went into effect on January 1, 2022 and many occupational therapy practitioners still have questions regarding what the policy means for OTAs. Read More
- Joint effort with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Department of Elder affairs in a home modification program. Read More
- Help us - Complete the Compact survey!! OT Compact - Is this good for Florida OTs? Read more and complete survey so that we can advocate properly for you. More...
FOTA HILL DAY UPDATE
The Florida Occupational Therapy Association (FOTA) is proud to continue its service to members and consumers of OT during the 2021 Florida Legislative Session. Thus far we have spoken to at least eight different legislators directly involved in the examination and vetting of our proposed updates to the Occupational Therapy Scope of Practice (Scope). Your FOTA representatives have also met with other relevant stakeholders such as The Florida Board of OT and the Florida Department of Health to solicit feedback and support of these essential updates to our Scope. Read Full Blog Post
Students, we thank you for your continued membership and engagement and we hope that you are staying safe during the pandemic. More than ever, student membership is crucial for protecting the profession, so please consider renewing your FOTA student memberships! Thank you to ALL of the students who attended the 2020 virtual FOTA conference last month. Please welcome the new FOTA Student Resource Editors/Writers beginning in January 2021.
COVID-19 Update and Resources
FOTA recognizes the impact of Covid-19 (coronavirus) on individuals, families, the nation, and our world as we all adapt to these uncertain times. OT
Practitioners across the state of Florida have all been challenged to remain healthy and ensure safe practices to prevent further community spread. As many of you have worked in various sectors or continue to be on the front lines, the influx of executive orders at the local, state, and national level can cause confusion as to what steps to take next. Of the utmost importance is to ensure your safety and that of your family, while following orders to reduce and prevent community spread. More
HILL DAY 2020 recap: Every Legislative Session, representatives and students from the Florida Occupational Therapy Association travel to Tallahassee to advocate on behalf of the occupational therapy profession. Our firm strategically selects members of the Legislature for FOTA to meet with, based upon the organization’s legislative priorities at the time. In October, during interim committee weeks, FOTA conducted a mini-Hill day focused on increasing Medicaid reimbursement. More
The Benefits of Membership
Membership fees support the FOTA Government Affairs Committee, which is active in advocating for occupational therapy practitioners and the clients we serve through:
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Working with our state legislators and our lobbyist to promote and protect occupational therapy services
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Protecting the OT scope of practice to ensure that practitioners have the right to practice true occupational therapy in Florida
Government Affairs News
We are closely watching for ways OT will both be impacted and for opportunities for OT to be included, perhaps in ways we have not been included in the past. While the ACA is a Federal program, FOTA is working closely with AOTA to follow the trends and keep you informed.
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