The Arizona Occupational Therapy Association would like to share with its members an update from AOTA regarding federal legislation that has potential negative impact for occupational therapy services in Arizona. "AOTA believes that certain provisions of the BCRA would jeopardize sources of funding and guarantees of coverage for occupational therapy services that help people across the lifespan achieve health, functioning, and independence. The plan to restructure the Medicaid program goes much farther than repealing and replacing the health care reform law enacted in 2010. By changing Medicaid from an open-ended guarantee to a capped or block granted program, the BCRA has the potential to affect millions of children, adults with serious disabilities, people receiving home and community based services, seniors in nursing homes, and kids getting therapy services in schools.

Read more: AOTA Statement on Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA)

Attention all OT's, OTA's, and OT Students,

On Friday May 12th Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a $9.8 billion state budget. Included in this budget were the provisions in our SB1030 bill, which will provide outpatient occupational therapy services for adults on AHCCCS (Arizona's Medicaid Program). This is the first time in Arizona's history that this service will be covered! Congratulations to everyone! This is a big win for occupational therapy and the state of Arizona.

The Arizona Occupational Therapy Association (ArizOTA) worked hard with Senator Nancy Barto, who sponsored our bill, to pass this legislation. Through our legislative committee and lobbying activities we were able to monitor and assist in gaining support for this bill. We would therefore like to sincerely thank Senator Barto for her support and our legislative committee. Please write, call, or email her office to send your appreciation.

For more information, click here to view our lobbyist's report on the bill.

We would also like to thank each and every one of you who contacted your state senators and house representatives to educate and urge support for this bill. Without you we may have not seen this legislation pass.

ArizOTA will now be assisting in the implementation of this legislation and we will be working hard for you. The main goal of your state association is to support you and the great work that you do everyday in this great state. We use the funds that we receive to help protect and promote the benefits of occupational therapy.

We therefore we need your support! If you are a member of the association thank you for your continued support. If you are not a member but thinking of becoming one I strongly urge you to join and assist in the next part of this legislative process. You can easily sign up online by clicking the link below.

https://www.arizota.org/membership/online-application

Thank you for your time and as always if you have any questions or comments please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sincerely,
Benjamin Gross OTR/L, ArizOTA President

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The Arizona Occupational Therapy Association is now accepting Call for Paper submissions for our Annual 2017 Fall Conference, which will be held September 15-16, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona.

ArizOTA is looking for dynamic speakers who will present about various aspects of occupational therapy, such as emerging practice areas, new evidence based practice guidelines, and assessment and intervention strategies for individuals across the lifespan.

Applicants may select to present a one-hour presentation, two-hour short course, half-day, full-day or poster presentation. Submissions are due by June 8th at midnight.

You may access the Call for Papers form by clicking the following link: Fall Call for Papers Submission Form

If you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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SB1030 has passed the Senate floor and will be moving to the House of Representatives. The roll call was 26 (in favor) - 3 (not in favor) - 1 (not voting). Please click the link below to find the breakdown of senators who supported/did not support the bill.

https://legiscan.com/AZ/rollcall/SB1030/id/580590

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UPDATE January 31st, 2017
SB1030 has passed the Senates Appropriations Committee. The roll call was 8 (in favor) - 1 (not in favor) - 1 (not voting). Please click the link below to find the breakdown of senators who supported/did not support the bill.

https://legiscan.com/AZ/rollcall/SB1030/id/573914

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The Arizona Occupational Therapy Association with the support of Senator Nancy Barto introduced senate bill 1030.

• This bill requires Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) contractors to include occupational therapy in provided outpatient health services for adults.
• On January 18th, 2017 the Senates Health and Human Services Committee voted 6-1 in support of the bill.
• The bill still requires to go through more committees in order to become law.

How can you help?

• Educate yourself on the bill. To view the bill and fact sheet please visit our website at https://www.arizota.org/legislation/state
• Stay up to date on where the bill is in the legislative processes by using the following link. https://legiscan.com/AZ/bill/SB1030/2017
• Everyones help is needed to support this bill. We urge you to contact your Senators to review and support this bill. Please do not contact house members as the bill has not reached the house yet.
• Get to know your Senator first either online or their platform, discuss common ground and what you can possibly help them with, mention the bill and how importance it is with the impact for healthcare, ask for an email address if you don't already have one to send them.
• Providing personal stories such as rural challenges, lack of PTs to address specific areas ADLS of stroke patients, traumatic hand injuries, etc... would be incredibly helpful.
• To find your state senator please follow the link below and enter your address. http://azredistricting.org/districtlocator/

Please watch your emails and the ArizOTA website for updates and any call to action.

Thank you

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Voting began on January 10th, 2017 and closes on January 31st, 2017. You can view all of the candidates here: http://ow.ly/we8n3078Jaf. ArizOTA would like to recognize the AZ practitioners running this year. Debbie Hines for AOTA Treasure, Cuyler M. Romero for RA, Emily Schulz for RA, and Lara Taggart for RA.

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Are you interested in gaining hands-on splinting experience while also learning about its appropriateness for your clients with neurologically based hand impairments? ArizOTA’s Neuro SIS Group is hosting a course that will provide both splinting practice and learning opportunities on January 21, 2017 from 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. at A.T. Still University.  Hurry, registration is limited so click here for more information and to register.

Title: SPLINTING the Neurologically Impaired Hand by Tania Shearon, MOT, CHT, PYT-C
Assistant Professor A.T. Still University

When: January 21, 2017

Where:
A.T. Still University
5850 E. Still Circle
Mesa, AZ 85206
480.219.6000
-The room is Mogollon on the second floor of the main building.

Schedule:
8am -8:30am Registration
8:30am -12:30pm workshop

Description: We will be making 3 or 4 splints including: oval 8's, Intrinsic -, C-bar, and a resting hand splint- all useful for the neurologically impaired hand, We will discuss material, strapping and problem solve the difficult scenarios including deformities and abnormal tone.

Cost: $50.00 includes, materials, fabrication and light mid-morning refreshments. Registration Limited -Minimum 10 to 18 Maximum registrants. CEU's available.

Click here to register!

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Hello ArizOTA members,

Thank you to those of you who responded to our recent OTA survey. We've received over 500 responses and would like to share the preliminary results with you.

Click here to view the preliminary results.

Thank you again for your input!

If you have any questions regarding the results or if you are an ArizOTA member and would like the full data set of the survey please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Dear Arizona Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants,

It's July and time to renew/join the Arizona Occupational Therapy Association today! Our membership runs on the fiscal year from July 1st - June 30th. Why Join? We Need YOU!

• Support your profession and your local colleagues
• Enhance your resume
  • Great statewide leadership opportunities
  • Professional networking
• Discounted Rates for continuing education courses
  • Save the Date our fall conference will be held at NAU Biomedical Campus in Phoenix on September 23rd and 24th.
• Special Interest Sections
• Legislation and lobbying - monitoring licensure and health care legislation.
• Access to
  • Job Postings
  • ArizOTA quarterly newsletter

Reasonable Membership Fee:

• OTR – AOTA Member ($60)
• OTR – Non-AOTA Member ($65)
• OTA – AOTA Member ($55)
• OTA – Non-AOTA Member ($60)
• Sustaining - AOTA Member ($80)
• Sustaining - Non-AOTA Member ($105)
• OTS / OTAS – AOTA Member ($25)
• OTS / OTAS – Non-AOTA Member ($30)
• Associate ($130)
• Retired ($25)

You can sign up online, over the phone, or mail in your registration. For more information visit www.ArizOTA.org or contact us at:

ArizOTA
P.O. Box 11803
Glendale, AZ 85318
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 623-937-0920
Fax: 623-937-0920

SB1305 is a proposed bill that is currently being proposed at the state capitol that would cover occupational services for outpatient adult AHCCCS patients. As you already know the passing of this bill would be a historic triumph for OT's and OTA's all around the state to start working with the adult AHCCCS population that can benefit greatly from our services. Please visit our legislative section to obtain more information and see how you can become more involved.

Read more...

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We are pleased to announce ArizOTA's student internship program! If you are a current OT/OTA student member you are eligible for this internship program. This opportunity will  allow you to work closely with an ArizOTA Board Member and/or Committee Members on the functions and day to day tasks for the assigned internship position.

Benefits of this program include the following:

• Covered registration cost to the spring and fall conference (pay for food only)
• Free membership for the first year once licensed within the state of Arizona
• Attendance to Special Interest Sections events
• Certificate of Appreciation at the Fall Conference
• Potential for letter of recommendation/referral for employment

For more information please visit the student section of our website to fill out an application. Upon completion one of our board/committee members will reach out to you for further assistance.

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