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Idaho Occupational Therapy Association

PO Box 7364

Boise, Idaho 83707

 

(PH) 208.388.4682

 

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© 2010 Idaho Occupational Therapy Association, all rights reserved.        

 

Choose Occupational Therapy...

for a full, rewarding life

 

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Click here to read about United Seating & Mobility

 

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Fifty percent of all practicing occupational therapy practitioners in Idaho are members of their professional association.  Help us reach 100% by investing in professional membership today..

 

PAMs Course

July 31-Aug 1, 2010

Click to find out more.

 

Treatment Summit

Earn up to  .7 CEUs

Moving north! 

 

Details to be announced soon for a Treatment Summit in the Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls area. 

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What is OT?

 

 

 

 

Click on the title to hear a message created by the Student Occupational Therapy Association at Idaho State University.

 

Find out more about a career in Occupational Therapy: 

 

Idaho State University Occupational Therapy Program

 

 

OT Jobs

Whether you live in Idaho, or are looking to relocate, IOTA is your resource for making an educated career choice.

Jobs

Licensure

Relocation information

Legislative

Practice Act Legislation

Guidelines to becoming a Medicaid Provider

Contact your legislators.

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Podcasts

AOTA is presenting free discussions on how occupational therapy encourages individuals to live life to its fullest.  Please visit AOTA to find out more.  Topics include Ergonomics, Alzheimer's Disease, Stress Management and more. 

You can also see AOTA on YouTube.

 


 
 
 

 Idaho Occupational Therapy Association

Promote Your Page Too

The Idaho Occupational Therapy Association is your professional resource for the occupational therapy profession in Idaho. 

 

Our member-driven organization works to advance and protect the occupational therapy profession by monitoring state and federal legislation and speaking on behalf of our members. 

 

We develop continuing education opportunities, networking events and timely communication to keep our members informed of professional issues that impact the practice of occupational therapy.  And we continually promote occupational therapy to consumers, other health care professionals and students considering occupational therapy as a career. 

 

Please enjoy our website to discover the many benefits our association offers to occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. 

Join us today.

What's Happening in Idaho OT

Update from RA Delegate Carrie Mori, PhD, OTR/L, BCP

There are several opportunities for colleagues to be recognized for their dedication to the field of occupational therapy. Read the request below and nominate a deserving Idaho OT.  In addition, the Representative Assembly is looking for a consumer to become a member of the RA.

Read more here.

Medicaid payments to resume

Tom Shanahan, a spokesman for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, said payments will be sent to providers starting on Tuesday, after the 4th of July holiday. All payments should be sent by July 9.

 

At the end of March, the department notified Medicaid providers that payments would be temporarily suspended for eight to 12 weeks because of budget cuts, and that the missed payments would be made up in July.

 

Shanahan said that Medicaid providers who have questions, or who have denied, or pending claims, should contact Molina Provider Services, the company that handles payments, at (866) 686-4272.

 

Medicaid must make budget cuts

The 2010 Idaho Legislature ordered Medicaid to make budget cuts. Across the board reductions are being considered in all payee levels with an emphasis on reducing costs without reducing services that are needed by clients.  To that end, providers and stakeholders have been invited to participate in discovery conversations with Medicaid.

 

On May 12, the Idaho Occupational Therapy Association, Idaho Speech and Hearing Association and Idaho Physical Therapy Association met with Medicaid representatives to discuss where it might be possible to reduce payments to independent providers of therapy services.  The recommendations were to freeze reimbursements at current levels and reduce payments if Medicare does so first and to meet on a quarterly basis to help maintain program integrity. 

 

The impact to occupational therapy through this proposed reduction is .22% or $156,000. 

 

You can make your opinions known on recommendations that you might make at this link:

www.medicaidneedsyourideas.dhw.idaho.gov .  Please log in to complete the survey and find out more information.  All budget cuts will take place effective July 1, 2010.  IOTA will update this information as it is made known to us.

 

New Reimbursement Chair named

AJ Jaques, OTR/L, Rigby, has been appointed to fill the position of Reimbursement Chair for the Idaho Occupational Therapy Association (IOTA).  The Reimbursement Chair monitors and advises on regulatory issues for the association and on behalf of all occupational therapy practitioners.  It is their charge to promote best practices, encourage appropriate collaboration, and foster relationships between the Occupational Therapy community, regulating agencies, private insurance companies, and Medicaid/Medicare. 

 

The position works closely with the association president and executive director.  "We are very excited to add AJ to our team," commented Lacey Osgood, OTR/L, IOTA President. 

 

AJ will begin immediately and hopes to be retained in the position during the coming election.  According to IOTA Bylaws, the positions of Vice President, Treasurer and Reimbursement Chair  are elected in even numbered years.

 

Reimbursement questions may be submitted here.

Autism Link

Have you checked this out?  AOTA has resources for therapists working with individuals with autism. 

 

http://www.aota.org/autism

 

Several positions remain open on IOTA Executive Board

Would you like to serve your profession in the most meaningful way possible?  You can represent your friends and colleagues and help guide the practice of Occupational Therapy in Idaho by joining the Idaho Occupational Therapy Association's Board of Directors.  Our board members serve for two year terms of office and they are involved in discussions about education, advocacy and awareness of occupational therapy.  They give directions on how the profession is perceived by others including consumers, legislators, and other affiliated health care professions and medical provider agencies. 

 

Contact President Lacey Osgood, MOTR/L today if you are interested in being appointed to one of our open positions: President-elect and Secretary. 

 

Contact VP Aine Keith-Brain, OTR/L if you are interested in running for a position whose term will begin in the fall.  Positions that will be elected  in 2010 are President-elect, Vice President, Treasurer, Reimbursement Chair and Student Representatives from Idaho State University OT Program and Brown Mackie College OTA Program. 

 

Not convinced that serving on the EB is for you?  Then please take a look at President Lacey Osgood's Top 12 List and reconsider.  It's rewarding.  We promise!

 

 

 

Idaho Legislature passes Medicaid Rules for school-based therapy

On January 18 and 19, 2010,  the Senate and House Health and Welfare Committees reviewed and approved the Medicaid Rules regarding therapy services in school-based settings.  The Medicaid Rules were updated to be in compliance with all statutes regarding therapy including Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech. 

 

Find out more about Docket 16-0309-0903.

 

NPR talks about Occupational Therapy

A segment on the January 26 morning show talked about how men are needed and welcomed into the occupational therapy profession and how many are changing careers during the recession to OT. Thanks to Myrna Harrington, OTR/L for the tip. 

 

Listen to the segment on NPR.

 

Changes to the Rules that affect school-based Occupational Therapy

Temporary and proposed Rules Governing Occupational Therapy in Idaho were published on August 24, 2009.  The rules help licensed occupational therapy practitioners interpret and implement the Occupational Therapy Practice Act.  In order to help schools adapt to the changes, IOTA has prepared a Guideline for Directors of Student services for Special Education on School-Based Occupational Therapy.  

 

Download the Guideline for Directors of Student services for Special Education on School-Based Occupational Therapy.

 

Please remember that the purpose of regulation is to protect the consumer and provide the appropriate level of services to them at the time and place they are needed.

 

More information will be available at this link.

 

A dime-a-day is all it takes to fund IOTA Legislative activities

Can you contribute your Fair Share?  For only a dime-a-day, you can protect your future, your profession and your livelihood.  Find out more here and make your pledge today. 

 

Health Care Reform

Have you been looking for a comprehensive review of how the proposed health care reform might affect occupational therapy practitioners?  Read what AOTA has to say: http://bit.ly/nEOCb

 

Changes happen every day so be sure to watch the AOTA Legislative Action Center for the most current information. 

Click for more Idaho OT updates...


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