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COVID-19 UPDATES
In response to Coronavirus and the CDC's recommendation to practice social distancing we have postponed all OTAC events until further notice. We are currently working to identify options to reschedule or offer online webinars.
Please check back for more information specific to each event. Thank you!
5/13/2020: There are several provider associations that are in support for legislation to be introduced to have Governor Polis’s Telehealth executive order [D 2020 038] placed in statute; this legislation includes occupational therapy. Our lobbyists (Kathy Oatis and Steve Balcerovich) met with the Hospital Association, Colorado Medical Society, Chiropractors, University Hospital, and other Health Care Associations and most of the providers indicated they would support such legislation.
Although this legislation may not be introduced when the legislature reconvenes in May, our lobbyists recommend supporting the Governor to extend his executive order to the end of 2020 and pursuing permanent Telehealth legislation in 2021. OTAC would support this legislation. For occupational therapy practitioners, find updates about Telehealth for Providers here. Billing instructions here.
4/30/2020: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the long awaited news today, April 30th, that occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech language pathologists can now perform telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries. Learn more here!
3/19/2020: Coverage for OT Services Provided Through Telehealth
OTAC has been working with our lobbyists to ensure OT practitioners’ continued ability to serve clients remotely in the time of social distancing due to Covid-19. Recent updates have allowed emergency temporary coverage for OT services provided via telehealth through Health First Colorado, Colorado’s Medicaid program. More information on this can be found here. We are also monitoring national efforts to expand telehealth access for Medicare recipients. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has broadened access to Medicare telehealth services so that beneficiaries can receive a wider range of services, including occupational therapy. Click here for more information!
State of Colorado Resources:
AOTA Resources to support Telehealth:
Colorado Fieldwork Educators (COFWEd) Consortium-Student Fieldwork Request
Hello everyone,
We are reaching out on behalf of the Fieldwork Education departments for all OT and OTA programs in Colorado and our students who are hoping to start their fieldwork/clinical rotations.
With the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic management, some fieldwork sites have cancelled, so we are reaching out to our Colorado community for your help.
If you are interested in exploring taking an OT or OTA student for a Level I or II fieldwork rotation, or you know someone who might, please reach out to any of us so we can provide you with more information and next steps. Our programs and contact details are below.
Our students hope to graduate on time and enter the workforce without delay. We appreciate all you do for the Association and for our future occupational therapy practitioners.
Thank you!
Colorado Fieldwork Educators Consortium
Colorado State University, Creighton University, Pima Medical Institute, and Pueblo Community College
Alison Herman, DHSc, MPH, OTR/L
Assistant Professor | Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
Department of Occupational Therapy | Colorado State University
1573 Campus Delivery
Occupational Therapy Building, Room 205
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1573
Telephone: (970) 491-5593
[email protected]
https://youtu.be/uGt2ZHovpAc
Lisa Bagby, OTD, OTR/L, MHA
Assistant Professor | Director of Clinical Education
Occupational Therapy | School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
Creighton University
Telephone: (402) 280-5528
Fax: (402) 280-5692
2500 California Plaza Omaha, NE 68178
[email protected]
Suzanne Holm, OTD, OTR, BCPR (she, her, hers)
Academic Program Coordinator | Associate Professor
Creighton-Regis Pathway
School of Physical Therapy
3333 Regis Blvd., G-4, Denver, CO 80221|
Telephone: (303) 964 - 5335
[email protected]
Carina Watson, B.S., COTA/L
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Faculty
7475 Dakin Street
Denver, CO 80221
Telephone: (303) 426-1800
[email protected]
Jennifer L. Geitner, MOT, OTR/L
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator | Faculty
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program | Pueblo Community College
900 W. Orman Ave., MT-113 | Pueblo, CO 81004
Telephone: (719) 549-3273
[email protected]
2020 Announcement
The year 2019 was a challenging year for the board and OTAC with current Board members absorbing various integral tasks, which is necessary to maintain focus on the value of member benefits and association operations which allow the state association to stay afloat. However, this has changed!
In fact, we have only two vacancies on our board with the filling of the very important Board Chair for Member Services by Julie Silver Seidle and Board Chair for Communications position by Meghan Weber. Our conference responsibilities will fall to Amy Solomon as Board Chair for Conference and Bailey LeBoeuf Johnson will continue as Board Char for Public Policy. Fortunately, Lucy Bosio, our recent Marjorie Ball Awardee, will help continue as Treasurer with a new mentee Karen Freed Jackson. We now look forward to filling a Newsletter Editor position to resume our quarterly newsletter!
We welcome others to become involved: what are your ideas? What are the benefits and shortfalls of member benefits? How could the value of OTAC membership be differently demonstrated? What recommendations do you have for increasing community engagement? What suggestions do you have for maintaining the organization’s financial stability? What stellar suggestion do you have for a topic that hasn’t been addressed? How you can be a part of OTAC’s solution: renew your membership, invite colleagues to join OTAC, join a committee, and/or apply for a Board position!
I look forward to continuing to serve as President in the important upcoming legislative session, as we need to pass legislation to continue licensing both occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. I wish to continue to emphasize the value of being a member of OTAC by providing meaningful networking and professional development opportunities in Colorado.
Best to the upcoming year!
Pamela DiPasquale-Lehnerz, MS, OTR/L
OTAC President |
