11/12/20 Click on the video above to hear a message from our 2020 conference co-chairs. ACT NOWOn December 1st 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 Missed the GOTA & AOTA Licensure Compact Meeting?
Link and Passcode to watch the full recording are on the Membership Resource Page HereFor more information also Visit: https://otcompact.org/about/11/3/2020
Click here for the GOTA YouTube Conference Video10/8/2020 The YouTube Conference Video includes a thank you to our sponsors, how to register, find your session, Click on the image below to watch the 2020 GOTA Virtual Conference: Annual Business Meeting from 10/7/2020. Click here to bid on the silent auction. Click here for the GOTA Online Store.
AOTA Calls for Choosing Wisely Recommendations9/16/2020 What is Choosing Wisely?Choosing Wisely is an initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation that seeksto 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:
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 InitiativeIn providing best practice, AOTA is seeking member input to update their ChoosingWisely 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.
GOTA 2020 Virtual Conference T-shirt Sale Begins!9/9/2020 The GOTA launched a Cafe Press page to manage 2020 Virtual Conference T-shirt sales. Multiple designs & colors available. Click the link below to order. Click here to order.
GOTA Virtual Conference8/31/2020 Follow the link below for program & registration details.Click here for information on the 2020 Conference.AOTA Representative Assembly Seeks:Members for Ad-Hoc Committees7/24/2020 As a result of business approved during the May 2020 meeting series, the RA is seeking members for the following ad hocs: 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 ProxyResponse to Racial Discrimination & Violence![]() 6/10/2020
The Georgia Occupational Therapy Association recognizes that silence is not an option. The GOTA is
currently working to identify concrete steps to hold ourselves, organization, and our community
accountable. The GOTA reached out to our community leaders regarding next steps. We plan to
directly engage members in the upcoming days. GOTA recognizes that violence and discrimination
against African Americans and persons of color is unacceptable.
right of every individual to access and fully participate in society.” AOTA’s Statement on Justice and
Systemic Racism indicates that “we must address the fundamental issues of diversity, equity, and
inclusion beyond conceptual factors.”
The GOTA encourages our members and the community to work towards social justice. We call on members and the community to:
--Join the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) for their Ignite Change series! Educating yourself and others is the first step to addressing the challenges we are facing.
--Participate in the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Governance Enhancement Town Hall Meetings
to help determine how the national association moves forward.
--Support Campaign Zero’s 8 Can’t Wait campaign. Learn more about their agenda to end police violence & join their call for change.
--Contact your community leaders. Call on them to implement The Leadership Conference Education Fund’s Guide
--Use the Multicultural, Diversity, and Inclusion (MDI) Network’s Cultural Competency Toolkit in your home, community, and place of employment.
--Engage with the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus by heading to AOTA’s website. Utilize the 9 resources NBOTC suggests as guidance on diversity issues as they relate to African Americans.
Action is needed now more than ever. Engage your community. Help us stand up to discrimination and violence. Georgia Occupational Therapy Association Georgia Occupational Therapy AssociationCOVID-19 Response5/26/2020 The American Occupational Therapy Association recently updated their COVID-19 resource page.This included reorganizing the way content was presented for ease of use.
Click here to view the AOTA Coronavirus (COVID-19) response page. As indicated in previous
GOTA releases, the AOTA has made this content public to assist in response to the pandemic.
The GOTA would like to highlight the following resources:
Members and the public are encouraged to access contentvia the GOTA YouTube Channel.Recently published videos include:
impacted by the pandemic. Stay tuned to watch the upcoming mini-series
Field Report: OTs & COVID-19. If you are interested in being interviewed or if you would
like to connect us with a clincian, please email [email protected] with contact information.
Clinicians featured in the Field Report: OTs & COVID-19 are
from around the United States. 2020 Annual Conference Update![]() Interested in being a virtual exhibitor for the2020 GOTA Annual Conference and Business Meeting?Click Here to find out how to register!
OTAs Added as Authorized TRICARE Providers4/16/2020
On March 16, the U.S. Department of Defense released the long awaited final rule that added occupational therapy
assistants (OTAs), as well as physical therapist assistants, as authorized providers of care in TRICARE, the health
care program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their family members. The final rule affirms OTAs' position
as essential providers of occupational therapy services for TRICARE beneficiaries. The effective date for the final rule
is April 16, 2020, meaning that services provided by licensed and qualified OTAs under the supervision of an
occupational therapist after that date are eligible for reimbursement by TRICARE.
Keep Your Community SafeWith the onset of COVID-19 the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association encourages members to
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 ![]() GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH APPROVESMEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPYSERVICES VIA TELEHEALTH
Thank you to the 110 occupational therapists whoparticipated in Legislative Action Day 2020!The goal for the 2020 Legislative Day was to thank our legislators who supported HB 253 & encouragecontinued support on current legislation important to occupational therapy practitioners.HB253: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/2...Thank you to Aileen Deogracias, OTR/L Chair of the Regulatory and Reimbursement Committee.
Click here to see what Legislative Action Day is all about.
GOTA Launches YouTube ChannelClick the preview below to watch the first video & here for submission details. New to the profession or to GOTA? If you are a first time GOTA member join NOW to receive your first year of *Please note this special is only for 2019*
Volunteer OpportunitiesFeel like you need to make a bigger impact in your profession? Want to help advance Occupational Therapy in the state of Georgia? GOTA is the perfect organization to get started! We are actively looking for members to fill different executive board and committee positions. If you would like to get more involved, please click on the link below to learn more. Continue Reading |