State and Federal Advocacy Update 2024
TNOTA is offering a pre-recorded continuing education course entitled "State and Federal Advocacy Update 2024" now through Aspire OT. This course is free to TNOTA members and non-members and is worth 0.5 hour CE credit.
About This Course: In this webinar, presenters will share their insight, experiences, and advice for advocating for occupational therapy both in Tennessee and at the federal level. This will include updates on current legislative topics.
Course Objectives:
Through participating in this event, attendees will be able to do the following at the close of the session:
- Locate and access TNOTA advocacy resources on the website.
- Identify the role of the TNOTA advocacy committee, the TNOTA legislative chair, and the TNOTA lobbyist.
- List a legislative issue currently being discussed at the state level and/or the national level.
Presenters: Stephanie Lancaster & Rosemary Lewis
Stephanie Lancaster graduated with a degree in occupational therapy from Washington University in St. Louis in 1991. She has worked as an OT educator since 2013 and serves as associate professor in the OT program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. She holds an M.S. in Leadership & Policy Studies and a Doctorate of Education in Instruction & Curriculum Design with an emphasis on Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Memphis. She served as the co-facilitator of the TNOTA Pediatric Community of Practice for several years before moving into the role of TNOTA President.
Rosemary Lewis OTRL, CTP, CBIS is an OT practicing in the Cardiovascular and Medical Intensive Care Units at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is a Certified Trauma Professional and Brain Injury Specialist and has advanced training in early mobility and rehabilitation for patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. She serves as the co-chair of the Advocacy Committee for TNOTA and is an associate reviewer for the Journal of Acute Care Occupational Therapy.
In Memoriam: Susan S. McDonald, EdD, OTR/L
The occupational therapy community and TNOTA mourns the loss of Susan S. McDonald, a dedicated leader, educator, and advocate, who passed away last week. Susan’s influence on the profession, her commitment to service, and her passion for advancing occupational therapy will be deeply missed.
Susan served as the Chair of the TNOTA Legislative Committee, a role that underscored her lifelong dedication to advocating for occupational therapy professionals and their clients. Before retiring in 2023, she was an Associate Professor and the Founding Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), where she shaped the careers of countless students, occupational therapists, and others and set high standards for academic excellence. Her educational journey included a doctorate from UTC and both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and Occupational Therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Throughout her career, Susan held numerous leadership roles in state OT associations, including President, President-Elect, and District Chairperson, and served as both a member and Chairperson of the State Regulatory Board. Known for her commitment to ethics and jurisprudence in the profession, she provided training to hundreds of occupational therapy practitioners and students across the state, ensuring a high standard of professionalism within the field. Additionally, her service extended to several boards focused on supporting children and families, further reflecting her commitment to making a positive impact in her community.
Susan’s contributions to occupational therapy will be remembered for their depth, compassion, and vision. Her work has enriched the field, inspired her peers, and left a legacy that will continue to shape future generations of occupational therapists. We are grateful for her contributions and celebrate her life, her work, and her unwavering dedication to our profession.
TNOTA members and others are invited to donate to the charity designated by Susan’s family in her memory, United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley via the button below.
Advocacy Resources
As of December 10, 2024, AOTA has prepared and released a state regulatory monitoring report. This report contains important information about regulations that are being tracked at the state and federal level, which stand to have an impact on OT practice in the state of Tennessee.
In alignment with the mission and vision of TNOTA as stated HERE, TNOTA continues to work closely with our lobbyists at Capitol & 5th Public Strategies as well as AOTA State Affairs to monitor legislation and regulations that impact occupational therapy at both the state and federal levels. Read about legislation we're tracking below!
If you have any questions or input about these or other legislative or advocacy issues, please contact TNOTA as listed here.
TNOTA believes that advocacy is critical to maintaining the health and visibility of occupational therapy in Tennessee. Membership in TNOTA supports our efforts to represent occupational therapy in legislative and regulatory affairs and gives a powerful, united voice to occupational therapy practitioners across our state. TNOTA is always working to develop more publicly available resources to enable OT practitioners, educators, and students to better advocate for our profession. If you have a resource you'd like to see, contact [email protected].
Telehealth Insurance Coverage
With the passage of the Tennessee telepractice bill, most healthcare providers' telehealth services are required under the new law to be covered similarly to in-person services. However, due to some of the bill's language, this is not guaranteed for occupational therapy practitioners at this time. TNOTA is working with our lobbyists and others to help rectify this language difference in order to ensure payment parity for our telehealth services. Watch this space for updates as the situation evolves.
While some insurance providers are covering OT services via telehealth, this varies based on provider rules. TNOTA's advocacy team has compiled a current list of telehealth coverage in Tennessee, updated 7/6/2021. This document includes link to contact insurance providers who have not yet covered telehealth services. This list will be updated as changes are made.
Read more on AOTA's website.
TNOTA's Lobbyists: Working for you!
TNOTA employs a lobbying firm that closely monitors legislation and executive orders from our Tennessee government.
Read the latest update from Capitol & 5th!
TNOTA employs a lobbying firm to represent the interests of our organization to state lawmakers and advocate for our profession. Our lobbyists serve as advisors to TNOTA on legislative and administrative issues that arise which may affect occupational therapy practice and education. They monitor legislation and track regulatory and administrative rule changes that impact OT practitioners. Our lobbyists assist with drafting legislation and talking points to ensure TNOTA's voice is represented to lawmakers. In addition, they provide training to our members in the areas of advocacy and ethics & jurisprudence.
Meet TNOTA's lobbyists, Capitol & 5th Public Strategies
 Capitol and 5th Public Strategies is an independent government relations firm that has over a decade of experience at the legislature working in the field of healthcare and human services. Their team consults with clients to develop and execute strategies to advance their legislative goals at every level of government in Tennessee. They facilitate direct engagement with policymakers, establish a network of allies for clients, and position resources to maximize the most favorable result on existing and emerging policy. Their exceptional relationships with key decision makers in the industry allow them to engage quickly with the right people when a legislative issue arises. Capitol & 5th values transparency and consistent communication with their clients to give them real-time information on their project.
The firm was founded by three partners, Courtney Atnip, J.A. Bucy, and Dustin Goforth. In 2018, two additional support staff members, Heather Meshell and Erika Thomas, were hired to assist with the firm’s growth. Capitol & 5th offers an integrated approach to meet their clients’ needs and advocate for their positions.
Find your legislators
To better inform yourself on issues that affect the provision of OT services in Tennessee, find your legislators and see where they stand on issues that impact our profession.
Other Templates
Tennessee Health Disparities Task Force
Visit this website to learn more!
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