Re: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??????

[Chuck Willmarth]

Ron,

Don't worry, after years of membership on your list, I have a thick
skin. :)

Re: AOTA Activities

AOTA is a large organization, so I can't report on everything that AOTA
does for members.  A good resource for this is the monthly management
report.  Here is a link to the June 2009 report:
http://www.aota.org/Governance/BOD/mgmtrpts/2009-Management/June-Mgmt-Re
port-.aspx (login required)


Re: Medicare contractors

The item I posted is an example of an accomplishment of our advocacy
work.   I think that it does take the resources of a national
association to comprehensively monitor and comment on Local Coverage
Determinations.  Each day an attorney in our office reviews the list of
draft LCDs from the contractors to see there a changes being proposed to
LCDs that would impact OT.  At the same time we look for opportunities
to improve LCDs.  n the Florida example, we worked with an AOTA member
in Florida to craft case studies for our LCD reconsideration request. 

Here is a link to the letter.
http://www.aota.org/Practitioners/Reimb/Pay/Medicare/LCDs/LCDComments/Ll
cdCFL29288.aspx.  I think that having this code available to OTs will
benefit Medicare beneficiaries.

We do encourage members to monitor LCDs and advocate with contractors,
so I applaud your efforts.  We've created a resource to help members
with advocacy efforts like this, see:
http://www.aota.org/Practitioners/Reimb/Pay/Medicare/LCDs/Resources/4082
7.aspx

Re: Home health

I know that our federal lobbyists have been busy working to get language
included in the House healthcare reform legislation to address the home
health issue.  Have you considered attending AOTA's Hill day to lobby
your member of Congress?  This year's event will be held October 5.
See:
http://vocusgr.vocus.com/GRSPACE2/WebPublish/Controller.aspx?SiteName=AO
TA&Definition=ViewIssue&IssueID=6336.   

Individual members do have the ability to raise their concerns through
the Representative Assembly.   Many projects/issues that we've addressed
over the years have come through member motions to the RA, for example
AOTA's policy on "direct access" to Medicare; that was a motion from a
member.  For information about the RA and the motion process, see:
http://www.aota.org/Governance/RA.aspx.

Chuck


-Original Message-
From: otlist-boun...@otnow.com [mailto:otlist-boun...@otnow.com] On
Behalf Of Ron Carson
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 7:36 PM
To: Chuck Willmarth
Subject: Re: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??

Chuck,  you know that I highly value your membership and input on this
list, so  please  don't  take  offense to this. In all honesty, it does
NOT take a national  organization  to  "lobby"  Medicare contractors for
change. I have PERSONALLY  done  the same thing, by simply send the
right person at FCSO an e-mail.  I  don't  want  to take away from
AOTA's "success" but that doesn't really  seem  like  a  significant
accomplish.

Now,  if  AOTA  can get OT as a qualifying home health service, that
will be something.  Although, it won't make much difference in my HH
company because like I previously said, there are 4x more PT's than
OT's. Go figure.

Also,  the  new "branding campaign" is just about enough to send me over
the edge. I was VERY active on AOTA's "OT Connection" forums about how
the brand misses  the  mark. It kept being reiterated that AOTA had done
"research" on the brand, but no research was made available on the
forum.

So,  I  don't  know.  It  just  seems  like  AOTA is out of step with
what I perceive  as the greatest needs of the OT community. And, I
really feel like I  have NO voice. I remember that all the negative
comments about the brand, drew  some  negative comments from the
President. I understand that when you volunteer  for  a  position,  you
certainly  don't  want to read a bunch of complaining from a member.
But, what I want to say is negative.

So, I don't really know what to do

Ron

- Original Message -
From: Chuck Willmarth 
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009
To:   OTlist@OTnow.com 
Subj: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??

CW> Ron,

CW> I do hope that you choose to renew your AOTA membership.   Your dues
CW> help provide the resources we need to advocate on behalf of the
CW> profession.   I know that you don't agree with everything the
CW> Association has done.  I think it is important that leadership hears

CW> from members from different perspectives; your voice does count.

CW> I believe that the the national Association does make a difference.
CW> Actually just the other day we lobbied the Medicare Contractors in 
CW> Florida (First Coast) to cover the assistive technology code (97755)

CW> and they agreed.  See:
CW>
http://occupational-therapy.advanceweb.com/Article/FL-Contractor-Restore
CW> s-Code.aspx.   

CW> I

Re: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??????

[Ron Carson]

Chuck,  you know that I highly value your membership and input on this list,
so  please  don't  take  offense to this. In all honesty, it does NOT take a
national  organization  to  "lobby"  Medicare contractors for change. I have
PERSONALLY  done  the same thing, by simply send the right person at FCSO an
e-mail.  I  don't  want  to take away from AOTA's "success" but that doesn't
really  seem  like  a  significant  accomplish.

Now,  if  AOTA  can get OT as a qualifying home health service, that will be
something.  Although, it won't make much difference in my HH company because
like I previously said, there are 4x more PT's than OT's. Go figure.

Also,  the  new "branding campaign" is just about enough to send me over the
edge. I was VERY active on AOTA's "OT Connection" forums about how the brand
misses  the  mark. It kept being reiterated that AOTA had done "research" on
the brand, but no research was made available on the forum.

So,  I  don't  know.  It  just  seems  like  AOTA is out of step with what I
perceive  as the greatest needs of the OT community. And, I really feel like
I  have NO voice. I remember that all the negative comments about the brand,
drew  some  negative comments from the President. I understand that when you
volunteer  for  a  position,  you  certainly  don't  want to read a bunch of
complaining from a member. But, what I want to say is negative.

So, I don't really know what to do

Ron

- Original Message -
From: Chuck Willmarth 
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009
To:   OTlist@OTnow.com 
Subj: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??

CW> Ron,

CW> I do hope that you choose to renew your AOTA membership.   Your dues
CW> help provide the resources we need to advocate on behalf of the
CW> profession.   I know that you don't agree with everything the
CW> Association has done.  I think it is important that leadership hears
CW> from members from different perspectives; your voice does count.

CW> I believe that the the national Association does make a difference.
CW> Actually just the other day we lobbied the Medicare Contractors in
CW> Florida (First Coast) to cover the assistive technology code (97755) and
CW> they agreed.  See:
CW> http://occupational-therapy.advanceweb.com/Article/FL-Contractor-Restore
CW> s-Code.aspx.   

CW> I hope you renew and that we see each other in Orlando.

CW> Chuck Willmarth
CW> Director, State Affairs and Reimbursement and Regulatory Policy
CW> AOTA

CW> -Original Message-
CW> From: otlist-boun...@otnow.com [mailto:otlist-boun...@otnow.com] On
CW> Behalf Of Ron Carson
CW> Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 8:23 PM
CW> To: OTlist
CW> Subject: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??

CW> That  is  the  question.  I've  supported  AOTA  for most of the years
CW> since graduating. But, I am really struggling to justify sending them
CW> $225.00 this year.  I'm  mean  what  do  I  personally  get  out of that
CW> money? I haven't supported  much  of  what  they've  done. I don't think
CW> they are leading our profession  down  the  correct  path. I think they
CW> are hung up on doing what THEY want rather than what's best for the
CW> profession.

CW> About  the  only good thing I guess is that I can go to the 2010
CW> Orlando, FL national conference for a reduced rate. .

CW> I'm looking for what others say about paying dues to AOTA.

CW> Thanks,

CW> Ron

CW> ~~~
CW> Ron Carson MHS, OT
CW> www.OTnow.com


CW> --
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CW> Archive?
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CW> --
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CW> Archive?
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Re: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??????

[Ron Carson]

I am 100% confident that AOTA already promotes OT as more than "arm pumpers"
(great  saying  by  the way). My concern is that AOTA is dormant on ensuring
that OT's are actually DOING more than arm pumping.

It's all great that AOTA promulgates wonderful documents like the Framework,
but  why  are  they  not investigating, publicizing and trying to change the
fact that the vast majority of phys-dys OT's ARE arm pumpers?

Ron

- Original Message -
From: Michael Holmes 
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009
To:   otl...@otnow.com. 
Subj: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??

MH> The AOTA is for the advancement of this profession, and
MH> perhaps Ron, if you wanted to change OT's perception from UE therapist, you
MH> might find them an ally. I am sure the AOTA would welcome the opportunity to
MH> promote OT as more than an "arm pumper"


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Re: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??????

[Chuck Willmarth]

Ron,

I do hope that you choose to renew your AOTA membership.   Your dues
help provide the resources we need to advocate on behalf of the
profession.   I know that you don't agree with everything the
Association has done.  I think it is important that leadership hears
from members from different perspectives; your voice does count.

I believe that the the national Association does make a difference.
Actually just the other day we lobbied the Medicare Contractors in
Florida (First Coast) to cover the assistive technology code (97755) and
they agreed.  See:
http://occupational-therapy.advanceweb.com/Article/FL-Contractor-Restore
s-Code.aspx.   

I hope you renew and that we see each other in Orlando.

Chuck Willmarth
Director, State Affairs and Reimbursement and Regulatory Policy
AOTA

-Original Message-
From: otlist-boun...@otnow.com [mailto:otlist-boun...@otnow.com] On
Behalf Of Ron Carson
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 8:23 PM
To: OTlist
Subject: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??

That  is  the  question.  I've  supported  AOTA  for most of the years
since graduating. But, I am really struggling to justify sending them
$225.00 this year.  I'm  mean  what  do  I  personally  get  out of that
money? I haven't supported  much  of  what  they've  done. I don't think
they are leading our profession  down  the  correct  path. I think they
are hung up on doing what THEY want rather than what's best for the
profession.

About  the  only good thing I guess is that I can go to the 2010
Orlando, FL national conference for a reduced rate. .

I'm looking for what others say about paying dues to AOTA.

Thanks,

Ron

~~~
Ron Carson MHS, OT
www.OTnow.com


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Re: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??????

[Michael Holmes]

The AOTA also advocated for OT's to utilize PAMS. In California for instance
an OT cannot apply ice, heat, etc. without advanced certification. How is it
that any dolt off the street can apply ice to a person, but an educated
professional cannot? I will tell you why because OT's did not get together
with AOTA to fight PT in the state legislature to include PAMS as part of
their education. The AOTA is for the advancement of this profession, and
perhaps Ron, if you wanted to change OT's perception from UE therapist, you
might find them an ally. I am sure the AOTA would welcome the opportunity to
promote OT as more than an "arm pumper". 

 

Michael A. Holmes MSOTR/L

  o...@nvhospital.org

(509) 486-2151 x500

 

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Re: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??????

[Neal Luther]

I would also like to chime in here.  My concern about any professional
group, be they healthcare or not, that depends so heavily on lobbying
efforts to be relevant to the general public is practicing on shifting
sand. 



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listed above and discard the original.-Original Message-
From: otlist-boun...@otnow.com [mailto:otlist-boun...@otnow.com] On
Behalf Of Ron Carson
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 6:54 AM
To: Carmen Aguirre
Subject: Re: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??

It's  not  only  (+)  commentary  that  grows  a  profession.  In  fact,
our
profession is sorely lacking in (-) commentary.

- Original Message -
From: Carmen Aguirre 
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009
To:   otlist@otnow.com 
Subj: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??

CA> Again, I said it long time ago in this listserve: What are you
CA> complainers doing to make the difference AOTA is not doing in your
CA> opinion? Where is the useful commentary that helps outr profession
grow
CA> and serve the community even better?


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Re: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??????

[Ron Carson]

It's  not  only  (+)  commentary  that  grows  a  profession.  In  fact, our
profession is sorely lacking in (-) commentary.

- Original Message -
From: Carmen Aguirre 
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009
To:   otlist@otnow.com 
Subj: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??

CA> Again, I said it long time ago in this listserve: What are you
CA> complainers doing to make the difference AOTA is not doing in your
CA> opinion? Where is the useful commentary that helps outr profession grow
CA> and serve the community even better?


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Re: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??????

[Barbara H. Hale]

I have been a member of AOTA for a many years. I feel they have been 
instrumental in helping to keep the demand for OT in the workplace across 
all settings. We very possibly could have no setting to complain about if 
not for the management of our educational programs, lobbying for the benefit 
of OT's across the nation, and promotion of research to provide evidence 
based data to improve practice. All these are benefits from belonging to our 
national org.


As an OT that has changed practice settings more than once during my career, 
AOTA has been a valuable resource to help me to review my skills for 
necessary self improvement within a new setting. I do not understand why we 
would not belong to AOTA as this is our professional identity. I firmly 
believe OT is more in demand because of the national organization. My 
co-workers do not belong to AOTA or our state organization, they are usually 
ill informed when they need CE credits or to upgrade their skills for the 
workplace. I have access to all of those things through AOTA.


Join - it is not good to put it off,

Barbara Hale, OTR/L
PRN OT
inpatient rehab facility 




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Re: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??????

[Carmen Aguirre]

You guys 

Who keeps anyone happy here? 

Bad if our profession is striving for organization, bad if it has an 
association that charges to have the funds available to have repp. at national 
and international levels that promote competencies; help overlook educational 
programs, to keep us involve in our political and economic situations, to 
assist with regulatory agencies, community education, reseach...

Bad if we have no representation, no direction, no clear understanding of what 
we do; if community has no idea about OT...

Again, I said it long time ago in this listserve: What are you complainers 
doing to make the difference AOTA is not doing in your opinion? Where is the 
useful commentary that helps outr profession grow and serve the community even 
better?

What unified front are you helping build?  

Perhaps your support for AOTA is not needed . How does your criticism? 



Carmen


 

> Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:23:06 -0400
> From: rdcar...@otnow.com
> To: OTlist@OTnow.com
> Subject: [OTlist] Renew AOTA or NOT??
> 
> That is the question. I've supported AOTA for most of the years since
> graduating. But, I am really struggling to justify sending them $225.00 this
> year. I'm mean what do I personally get out of that money? I haven't
> supported much of what they've done. I don't think they are leading our
> profession down the correct path. I think they are hung up on doing what
> THEY want rather than what's best for the profession.
> 
> About the only good thing I guess is that I can go to the 2010 Orlando, FL
> national conference for a reduced rate. .
> 
> I'm looking for what others say about paying dues to AOTA.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Ron
> 
> ~~~
> Ron Carson MHS, OT
> www.OTnow.com
> 
> 
> --
> Options?
> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com
> 
> Archive?
> www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com

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