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Registration Now Open! Click Here to register

Embark on The Path Ahead and earn up to 17.5 Continuing Education Credits

Preview the Conference Program here to see a list of the exciting presentations available.

 

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HB268 Update

5/11/2021

We have good news to share. GOTA has just received word from Tom Bauer, GOTA Lobbyist, that Governor Kemp has signed HB 268: The Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact.

We appreciate all the work that GOTA Lobbyist Tom Bauer has put into making HB 268 a reality for Georgia OT practitioners.

We are grateful to Rep. Bill Werkheiser, our bill sponsor, who has worked closely with Tom in making sure our bill was signed and was at the Governor’s office today to ensure that it will happen.

Thank you to Chuck Wilmarth from AOTA Health Policy and State Affairs, Shaun Conway, External and Regulatory Affairs at National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. NBCOT, and Dan Lodgson from the Council of State Governments for guiding us from the compact’s early beginnings until completion.

Lastly, many thanks to you, GOTA Members and Georgia OT practitioners who answered our calls to action and took the time to call the Governor’s Office last week as well as emailed and called legislators this weekend. Your efforts made a huge difference! This is grassroots OT advocacy at its best.

Aileen Deogracias, OTR/L
Georgia Occupational Therapy Association
Regulatory and Reimbursement Chair

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HB 268 ALERT!

HB 268, the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact bill is still on Governor Kemp’s desk awaiting his signature.  

The deadline is Monday night 5/10/2021.
 
Please call the governor at 404-656-1776, follow the prompts to “press 3”, and leave this message:  “Please ask Governor Kemp to
sign HB 268, the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact”.
Whether or not you have already called the governor, GOTA needs you to email your State representative and senator and ask
him or her to contact Governor Kemp’s office before Monday night in support of HB 268.  You may identify your legislators by
going to www.legis.ga.gov. and clicking “Find Your Legislator.”  Their email address is at that site as well.
In your email, you may use the following talking points:

• HB 268 overwhelmingly passed the Georgia House and Senate
• The military strongly supports HB 268 because it helps military personnel to be licensed when they relocate
• HB 268 requires a criminal background check before receiving reciprocity
• HB 268 promotes access to healthcare in rural areas by facilitating use of telehealth services

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.  THANK YOU!    
Aileen Deogracias, OTR/L
Georgia Occupational Therapy Association
Regulatory and Reimbursement Chair
[email protected]

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Update: OT Licensure Compact

 AOTA and NBCOT are collaborating to support the development of an interstate licensure compact for occupational therapy to address licensure portability. This compact will provide licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants with the opportunity to practice in the states that join the compact without having to secure a new license in each state. The GOTA took part in the supporting this legislation starting in summer of 2020. GOTA is excited to announce that the OT Licensure Compact passed in both the House and the Senate. Visit the Membership Resource Page Here  to review the progress of supporting this legislation and find out the next steps. 

 

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ACT NOW

On December 1^st the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a 9% cut to Medicare Part B therapy services beginning in 2021. Despite ongoing advocacy and thousands of comment letters opposing these cuts, CMS made the decision to implement these payment changes.  These cuts affect a wide range of healthcare providers including therapy practitioners, surgeons, radiologists and more.

Convincing Congress to take action and halt these cuts is the only option we have left.  AOTA is asking for your assistance to make sure Congress prioritizes stopping these cuts in the next week and a half. 

Write to your Members of Congress asking them to stop these cuts through AOTA’s Legislative Action Center: https://cqrcengage.com/aota/app/write-a-letter?4&engagementId=509002 .  We need Congress to take action by the end of next week and stop these cuts! 

Help Links

You can learn more about recent Congressional pressure to stop these cuts here: https://www.aota.org/Advocacy-Policy/Congressional-Affairs/Legislative-Issues-Update/2020/Congress-Stop-Looming-Cuts.aspx

Read in-depth information about the final fee schedule and the impact on occupational therapy services here: https://www.aota.org/Advocacy-Policy/Federal-Reg-Affairs/News/2020/CY2021-Medicare-Physician-Fee%20Schedule.aspx

 

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Missed the GOTA & AOTA Licensure Compact Meeting?

Link and Passcode to watch the full recording are on the Membership Resource Page Here 

For more information also Visit: https://otcompact.org/about/

 

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AOTA Calls for Choosing Wisely Recommendations 

9/16/2020

What is Choosing Wisely?

Choosing Wisely is an initiative of the  American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation that seeks
to advance a national dialogue on avoiding unnecessary medical tests, treatments and procedures.
 The mission of Choosing Wisely is to promote conversations between clinicians and patients by
helping patients choose care that is:

• Supported by evidence
• Not duplicative of other tests or procedures already received
• Free from harm 
• Truly necessary

Beginning in 2012, national organizations representing medical specialists have asked their
members to identify tests or procedures commonly used in their field whose necessity
should be questioned and discussed. Nearly 80 clinical organizations work with the 
American Board of Internal Medicine to create recommendations for the public. For
a full list of Specialty Society Partners, click here. 

AOTA is a proud partner in the Choosing Wisely Initiative

In providing best practice, AOTA is seeking member input to update their Choosing
Wisely recommendations. They are asking members to provide input through their
 Choosing Wisely Recommendations Survey, which needs to be filled out by
 September 27, 2020. As an incentive you can elect to enter a drawing for a free
year of AOTA membership. For more information on AOTA's involvement in the
initiative, along with resources to support your practice, visit the
 AOTA Choosing Wisely page.
Many thanks to Helene Smith-Gabai, Ph.D., OTR/L, BCPR, GOTA RA
Representative to the AOTA for providing this update. 

 

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AOTA Representative Assembly Seeks:

Members for Ad-Hoc Committees

7/24/2020

As a result of business approved during the May 2020 meeting series, the RA is seeking members for the following

ad hocs:

Call for Dry Needling Task Force Applicants: July 31 Deadline

Call for Mentorship Task Force Applicants: July 31 Deadline

Please encourage members and colleagues in your state to apply who may meet the criteria outlined by

sharing the links above.

Benjamin J Gross OTR/L

[email protected]

Vice Chairperson of the Affiliated State Association Presidents 

Representative Assembly State Presidents' Voting Proxy

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Response to Racial Discrimination & Violence

Georgia Occupational Therapy Association

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Keep Your Community Safe

 

With the onset of COVID-19 the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association encourages members to
closely follow Center for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines. Until further notice, the GOTA
encourages members to engage in meetings and with fellow members virtually.

In line with the CDC, the GOTA recognizes that “for the majority of people, the immediate risk of being
exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low. There is not widespread circulation in
most communities in the United States.” 

The GOTA is doing its part to lessen the spread and impact of the virus by encouraging regional leaders,
members, and the community to follow the CDC’s guidelines to:

• Practice good hygiene
• Be careful with meetings and travel
• Handle food carefully
• Stay home if you are sick or someone in the home is sick

Please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage for the most up-to-date
information and to share educational materials with your workplace and community. 

We look forward to engaging with members virtually via internet conferencing, our webpage,
and via the GOTA YouTube channel.

 

The Georgia Occupational Therapy Association Board

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GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH APPROVES

MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

SERVICES VIA TELEHEALTH

 
The current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted an issue that GOTA was 
already addressing.  Specifically, GOTA has  received clarification from the Georgia Department
of Community Health (DCH) that that occupational therapists will be able to bill for telehealth
services provided under the Medicaid Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) program. 

In line with GOTA’s advocacy efforts, GOTA applauds the DCH's decision to waive certain policies
related to the use of telehealth in diagnosis and treatment. This is in response to the viral
pandemic and to provide continuity of services and treatment with reduced risk of exposure
to Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids members and providers. Please see attached document.
 
DCH is currently in the process of making adjustments, including the codes to be allowed,
in the Georgia Medicaid Management Information system (GAMMIS ) at this time so that the
therapy providers can submit claims for services. DCH has especially emphasized that
providers MUST comply with the billing rules for Telehealth. and must include the
appropriate Place of Service code and/or the appropriate modifiers (e.g., GT). 
 
DCH is reviewing all categories of service codes to identify additional codes that
can be included in telehealth reimbursement.  MMIS will be modified to include new codes
following DCH review.  We will post additional information as needed. If you have questions
related to telehealth/telemedicine, please contact the DXC Technology Provider Contact
Center at 1-800-766-4456 and/or your assigned Provider DXC Representative.
 
Providers may locate the Telehealth Guidance manual by accessing the following
link:  www.mmis.georgia.gov.  Select the “Provider Information” tab, then select
“Provider Manuals.”  Scroll down to locate the Telehealth/Telemedicine manual.
 
GOTA also reminds OTs that the Georgia Telehealth Act has recently gone into effect, and
occupational therapy provided via telehealth is included as a covered service.   
 
In addition, GOTA is creating a resource center to equip you with information and
guidance related to occupational therapy and Telehealth. We will be updating this
information on GOTA webpage www.gaota.com  as information becomes available.
Provider Messages-Telemedicine.pdf

Aileen Deogracias, OTR/L

Georgia Occupational Therapy Association

Regulatory & Reimbursement Committee Chair

[email protected]

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