Legislative Updates – Category Archive
November 4, 2008
Government Affairs, October 2008
The US Congress did pass the mental health parity bill. AOTA has an author on a bill at the federal level to make occupational therapy a lead in opening cases in the home health context.
OTAC was able to get Blue Cross to reverse reimbursement reductions last spring (2008) after they initially proposed 50% or more reductions in reimbursement for OT services. After OTAC met with the Blue Cross executives, they permanently reversed the reimbursement reductions. These successes support the notion that advocacy works.
OTAC is presently working with the group Autism Speaks to get a bill authored that will cover OT services to children with autism and Governor Schwarzenegger has called a special session for after the elections to solve the continued budget crisis. The Legislature is required to respond to this call and plans to convene either Friday, November 7 or Monday, November 10. The Governor estimates that the budget deficit is between $5 and $8 billion, while legislative leaders are estimating it could be as high as $10 billion.
—Jane Dressler, J.D., OTR/L
March 2, 2008
Karen Bass is new Speaker of CA Assembly
A little good news — this is a reasonable and sympathetic person and a healthcare professional…
State mental health bills in review
From the California Coalition for Mental Health (CCMH):
They are in the process of reviewing all of the newly introduced bills, but highlighted SB 1606 as the one most likely to generate the most interest and controversy.
Occupational Therapy Review and Comment Requested!
Taken from the AOTA website…
Measures available on www.usqualitymeasures.org beginning February 8, 2008, through March 10, 2008
