School Based Medicaid Program

The Massachusetts TrI-Alliance of School Therapists, a working group representing occupational, physical and speech therapists, began meeting in the spring of 2019 in response to the anticipated School-Based Medicaid Program (SBMP) expansion scheduled for July 1, 2019. The goal of this working group was to leverage the collective understanding of SBMP documentation requirements for therapists under this expansion and to bridge communication with key stakeholders, i.e., MA DESE, Medicaid, OT, PT, ST State Associations. 

This working group with the support of MAOT, APTAMA, and MSHA, has created the attached document that highlights the SBMP documentation requirements, links to important resources, and provides action steps for school-based therapists. We encourage therapists to read this document and linked resources carefully and to use this knowledge to facilitate productive discussions with their school administrators in developing or refining district/collaborative processes. 

School-Based Medicaid Guidance.pdf

Massachusetts TrI-Alliance of School Therapists primary contributors to this document include:  

-Jan Hollenbeck, OT, OTD, Coordinator of Related Services, Assistive Technology, Secondary Transition, and 504, Medford Public Schools

-Nancy Ahrabi-Nejad, PT, MHA, DPT Director of Consultation Services, Assabet Valley Collaborative

-Suzannah Campbell, MS, CCC-SLP, C.A.G.S. Supervisor of Speech, Language, and Hearing, Medford Public Schools

-Dawn Flaherty, OT, Director of Related Services and Assistive Technology, South Shore Educational Collaborative

-Kristen Skjerli, PT, Coordinator of OT/PT South Shore Educational Collaborative

Kathy Stemm, DSc, PT, PCS, Program Coordinator: PT/OT Services CAPS Collaborative

What a great day at the Massachusetts State House!

On Tuesday, July 10, 2019, twelve (12) occupational therapy practitioners and students testified in support of H.1000/S.550 An Act for Mental Health Providers. 

Saving the best bill for last in the hearing, each member listed below testified for three minutes in support of this bill, which would add “occupational therapist” and “occupational therapy assistant” to the definition of “qualified and licensed mental health provider”.  This bill could do wonderful things for our profession and our clients.

Interested in next steps? The MA State Legislature will go on recess for about six weeks starting end of July until Labor Day.  After this time, the committee will reconvene and determine next steps for this bill.  In August (or sooner!), you’ll hear from us about what to do and who to contact.  Until then, let’s congratulate our members who supported our profession today!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions at sarahmckinnonOT@gmail.com.

Fondly,

Sarah McKinnon

MAOT Government Representative

Tina Champagne. OT, OTD, OTR
Vice President, Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy (MAOT)
Chief Executive Officer, Crutchins Programs for Children and Families, Inc.

Catherine Haines, OT, OTR
Volunteer, Cambridge Health Alliance
CHA Center for Mindfulness and Compassion

Jade LaRochelle, OT/s
Boston University Doctor of Occupational Therapy Candidate

Amanda Mack, OT, OTD, MS, OTR
MGH Institute of Health Professions

Estie Martin, OT/s
Boston University Doctor of Occupational Therapy Candidate

Richard McGuire, OT/s
Boston University Doctor of Occupational Therapy Candidate

Sarah McKinnon, OT, OTD, OTR, BCPR, MPA
Government Relations Representative, Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy (MAOT)

Jack Norcross, OT/s
Boston University Doctor of Occupational Therapy Candidate

Katelyn Ryan, OT, OTR
Carney Hospital

Sarah Sawyer, OT, OTR

Director, OTA The Koomar Center, Newton, MA

Karen A. Turner, OT, MS, OTR
Patient Navigator for Autism and Developmental Disorders
Massachusetts General Hospital

Pam Wool, OT, MS
Occupational Therapy Consultant
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New ACOTE Accreditation Standards Adopted

After an extensive 2 ½-year process, multiple surveys to the communities of interest, and several open hearings, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) has adopted new accreditation standards for doctoral-degree-level occupational therapy programs, master’s-degree-level occupational therapy programs, baccalaureate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant programs, and associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant programs. The new Standards are available on the ACOTE accreditation section of the AOTA Web site ( www.acoteonline.org). Programs will be required to comply with the new 2018 Standards by July 31, 2020.

In addition, ACOTE voted to allow early implementation of two doctoral-level Standards as programs would like to develop their curricula to reflect the new Standards to better address the needs of their faculty and students and for strategic planning purposes. Specifically,

1. Allow programs to waive the requirement in 2011 Standard A.3.2 for program applicants to hold a baccalaureate degree or higher prior to admission to the program.
2. Allow OTD programs to have a 14-week Capstone Experience (2018 Standard D.1.3) versus a 16-week Capstone Experience (2011 Standard C.2.3).

ACOTE will host information sessions on the new Standards at the October 2018 Academic Leadership Council (ALC) meeting in Louisville, Kentucky and at the April 2019 AOTA Annual Conference and Expo in New Orleans. In the spring and fall of 2019, ACOTE will provide regional workshops for interested faculty. The workshops will focus on the changes in the new Standards and strategies that programs could use to ensure compliance.

Update on Entry-Level Education

At the August 2018 meeting, ACOTE took the following actions:

ACOTE ACTION:

Lift the abeyance on the OTA mandate decision and rescind the mandate for a single point of entry for the occupational therapy assistant at the baccalaureate degree level.

ACOTE ACTION:

Reaffirm the decision from August 2017 to require a single point of entry for the occupational therapist at the doctoral level.

ACOTE has acted in the best interests of all parties with the decision for a single point of entry for the occupational therapist and the dual point of entry for the occupational therapy assistant. ACOTE will continue to support educational programs to meet the growing needs of society and fulfill its potential in the 21^st century. We look forward to working with educational programs to ensure quality occupational therapy education by supporting the preparation of competent occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. ACOTE will notify our stakeholders as these decisions impact their work and transition processes.

Any questions should be e-mailed to   accred@aota.org.

Click here to see the FAQs from AOTA's Board of Directors on the OT and OTA Mandates

Click here for information for AOTA Members