HEATHER PARSONS

HR 4315/S3977 - Medicare Orthotics & Prosthetics Patient Centered Care Act: Advocate for passage to stop fraud in the provision of orthotics and prosthetics and to ensure access to needed orthotic devices. HR 4878/S 2459 - EMPOWER Act: Advocate for passage of EMPOWER Act, which would change the Medicare supervision requirement for occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) in private practice from "direct" supervision to match state standards and require GAO student of impact of 15% reimbursement cut for OTAs and PTAs in rural and medically underserved areas. H.R. 2474 - Strengthen Medicare for Patients and Providers Act: Support passage. No bill number - Advocate for introduction of legislation allowing occupational therapy practitioners to opt-out of Medicare. No bill number - Support legislation that will reverse the current Medicare multiple procedure payment reduction for therapy services. No bill number Support legislation that will improve the ability of therapy providers to participate in Medicare quality payment programs. HR 3875/S 2880 - Expanded Telehealth Access Act: Advocate for passage in the House and Senate to establish occupational therapists as telehealth providers in Medicare. H.R.7623/S.3967 - Telehealth Modernization Act: Advocate for passage of bill that would among other things establish occupational therapists as telehealth providers in Medicare. S. 2016 and HR 4189 - CONNECT for Health Act: Advocate to revise provisions of legislation to specifically establish occupational therapists as telehealth providers in Medicare. H.R. 8261 - Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act: Advocate for passage of bill that would extend waivers allowing OTs to provide services via telehealth in Medicare. H.R.8151 - Telehealth Therapy Act: Advocate for passage of bill that would allow OTs to provide services via telehealth in Medicare on a permanent basis. H.R.7148 - Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act: Advocate for passage of legislation that would establish occupational therapy as a qualifying Medicare home health service and for introduction of similar bill in the Senate. S. 1592/H.R.8220 - Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Parity Act: Support passage. S. 2942 WELL Seniors Act - support passage H.R. 6371 Provider Reimbursement Stability Act - support passage H.R. 6545 Physician Fee Schedule Update and Improvements Act - support passage H.R. 6683 Preserving Seniors Access to Physicians Act - support passage S. 3430 Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act - support passage S. 2433/S. 3106/H.R. 4079 Substance-Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act - support passage H.R.7279 REDUCE Act: Supported introduction and passage. H.R. 7618 Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act: Supported introduction and passage. S. 5023 support Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act Support Congressional efforts to stop cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Support inclusion of a repeal of the Multiple Procedure payment reduction in Medicare Fee Schedule Reform

No bill number - Discussed creation of occupational therapy led program to address school-based staff burnout No bill number - Supported efforts to include occupational therapy in new school-based Medicaid guidance, where appropriate. No bill number - GROW SISPS Act from prior congress: Support reintroduction. No bill number - National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week resolution: support introduction. No bill number - Supported occupational therapy's inclusion in trauma informed care in school proposals. H.R. 744 - Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act of 2023: Support passage. 10/24/24 - Meeting with Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education Meghan Whittaker - School-Based Occupational Therapy 10/24/24 - Meeting on Medicaid school-based services with Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education Meghan Whittaker and Special Assistant to the President for Education Roberto Rodriguez 11/15/24 - Meeting with Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education Meghan Whittaker - School-Based Occupational Therapy 12/19/24 - Meeting with Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education Meghan Whittaker - School-Based Occupational Therapy

No bill number - Funding for IDEA Part B & C: Advocate for increased funding. No bill number - Funding for IDEA Part D - Personnel Prep. Grants: Advocate for increased funding. No bill number - Funding for ESSA Title I and Title IVA: Advocate for increased funding. No bill number - Funding for the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program: Advocate for increased funding. No bill number - Funding for the Allied Health Workforce Diversity program: Advocate for funding. No bill number - Funding for School-Based Mental Health Grant Program: Advocate for funding.

No bill number - Grow SISPS Act from 117th Congress: Support reintroduction. No bill number - Support funding for the Allied Health Workforce Diversity program. HR 1310 - SHARE Act: Support passage and seek Senate introduction.

No bill number - Support funding for the Allied Health Workforce Diversity program. H.R. 744 - Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act of 2023: Support passage H.R. 1310 - States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment Act or the SHARE Act: Support passage. S. 462/HR 4933 - Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act of 2023: Advocate for adding occupational therapy back into S. 462, similar to provisions in the draft "Primary Care and Health Workforce Expansion Act;" and advocate for passage of HR 4933. S. 1592 - OT Mental Health Parity Act: Support passage and advocate for introduction in the House of Representatives. S. 2433/S. 3106/H.R. 4079 - Substance-Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act - support passage. Medicare Bump Act - Support passage No Bill Number - Funding for Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Grant Program: Advocate for funding No Bill Number - Funding for School-Based Mental Health Grant Program: Advocate for funding Support or reauthorization of Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (H.R. 7153/S. 3679

S. 4556 - support Safe STEPS for Veterans Act

THE AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION, INC. (AOTA)

THE AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION, INC. (AOTA)

THE AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION, INC. (AOTA)

THE AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION, INC. (AOTA)