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Looking for an occupational therapist? Search the OTAC Member Directory |
Celebrating 76 years of service to the occupational therapy profession in Colorado!
The Occupational Therapy Association of Colorado supports the practice of occupational therapy in Colorado through advocacy, education, professional development, collaboration, and representation.
Join us for OTAC's Annual Conference! September 11th - 14th
OTAC Advocacy Updates With the uptick in advocacy and legislative needs, we need your support now more than ever! How can you help?
 Read all the advocacy updates from this legislative season here! Medicaid Therapy Cuts! May 15th: Colorado Legislative Session Wrap-Up: A Win for OT Practitioners As the 2025 legislative session comes to a close in Colorado, we’re excited to share some positive news. Thanks to your engagement with our calls to action—and through strong collaboration with CSHA and APTA Colorado—occupational therapy practitioners, along with physical and speech therapy clinicians, have secured a 1.6% increase in Medicaid reimbursement. While this increase may seem modest, it’s a meaningful win, especially considering that earlier projections suggested there might be no increase at all—or even a potential cut. In addition, the proposed implementation of the Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR) was removed from consideration and will not be moving forward. We sincerely thank you for your advocacy and continued support. Your efforts made a real difference for occupational therapy practitioners across the state! Next On Our Radar: Colorado Faces Potential $1B Medicaid Cut Colorado lawmakers are preparing for a special legislative session to address significant federal Medicaid funding cuts, which could total up to $1 billion. If these cuts are enacted, the state will struggle to replace the lost funds, potentially resulting in drastic reductions to Medicaid services and other critical state programs. Medicaid is Colorado's largest state program, relying on over $10 billion in federal funding. A decrease in this funding could have severe consequences, especially for healthcare access and services for vulnerable populations across the state. Governor Jared Polis’ budget director has indicated that Colorado will be unable to backfill these funds, putting essential programs at risk. As the legislative session progresses, lawmakers are bracing for the possibility of reconvening to address this funding crisis. Stay tuned as OTAC continues to monitor the situation and its potential impact on occupational therapy services in Colorado. Read more: Colorado Sun Article
CO Rehab Tri-Alliance Town Hall Our organizations want you to be well-informed about our efforts in the Colorado General Assembly and our commitment to working together for the benefit of our professionals and all Coloradans. The state is facing a $1B budget shortfall and lawmakers will have difficult decisions to balance the budget. Every cut option is on the table including Medicaid rates. Your association is also working on reducing administrative barriers and expanding your scope of practice to better serve your patients with DME, school sports physicals, creating a SLPA credential, and workers’ compensation.
Tri-Alliance: Post Legislative Season
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Congress Passes the Final Version of One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Impact on Occupational Therapy Practitioners and Students The following information is being shared on behalf of AOTA: On July 3rd, the House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, sending it to the President to be signed into law. Provisions in this bill are wide-ranging and cover a range of topics, including energy policy, tax policy, immigration, and healthcare. This article focuses on the provisions with the most direct impact on occupational therapy professionals, occupational therapy students, and our clients. AOTA is currently planning to hold a live webinar about the bill, our advocacy efforts, and next steps, later in July. Please continue to check the AOTA events page for the latest updates. Now that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has passed, subsequent significant actions will occur at the state level, as states determine how to respond to reduced federal funding and healthcare systems decide how to provide services to the newly uninsured. We will work closely with state associations to help minimize the impact on access to occupational therapy services at both the state and local levels. We will also continue to advocate for policies at the federal level that help to expand access to OT and other healthcare services and have access to financial aid for higher education. Click here to read the full article and learn in more detail the potential impacts on the occupational therapy profession. Tell Congress: Pass the OT Mental Health Parity Act! Occupational therapy has long played a critical role in supporting individuals with mental health and substance use disorders—but outdated systems and limited awareness continue to create barriers to care under Medicare. That’s why we’re excited to share that H.R. 4073, the Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act, has been reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY)—an occupational therapist himself—and Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA). This bipartisan bill would help ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with mental health needs can access the full scope of occupational therapy services by:
Now, we need your voice. Click "Take Action" below to urge your Member of Congress to co-sponsor this important legislation and help expand access to OT mental health services.
Take Action: House Budget Bill Could Impact OT Practitioners and Students The House just passed a major budget bill—and your voice is needed. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping budget reconciliation package, includes several provisions that could significantly affect occupational therapy practitioners, students, and the clients we serve. Here's what's at stake:
While some of these changes could offer benefits, others may pose serious challenges to the occupational therapy profession. Now is the time to make your voice heard. Contact your members of Congress to advocate for policies that support occupational therapy and to oppose those that could harm our profession and the communities we serve. Let’s protect the future of our profession—together.
AOTA - Education and EI Update as of March 20th: " On March 20, 2025, the President signed an executive order directing the closure of the Department of Education (ED), a move that could significantly affect federal education programs, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). While dismantling ED would require congressional action, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) continues to support the Department and its vital functions, particularly in education settings where many occupational therapy practitioners work. AOTA remains committed to advocating for the continuation of ED's critical services and resources and urges practitioners to engage with policymakers to ensure students and professionals continue to receive essential support." Read full article here.
AOTA’s policy team invites you to a timely discussion on the potential impact of recent actions by the federal government on school-based occupational therapy. With shifts in federal oversight and funding, a panel of experts will provide key insights and emphasize why state-level advocacy is more important than ever. These shifts may impact school-based occupational therapy service delivery, professional responsibilities, and policy priorities. This in-person event provides practitioners and students with an opportunity to engage with the panelists, ask questions, and discuss how they can take action to support their profession and the students they serve. Update as of March 12 - read update here! 504: A federal lawsuit filed late last year by 17 states sought to have Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 declared unconstitutional. Thanks to extensive advocacy efforts by AOTA and state OT associations, Section 504 is officially safe! Learn more about the advocacy efforts that saved this bedrock civil rights law for people with disabilities. Learn more here!
Challenges with TRICARE West AOTA has been informed of several issues affecting providers' billing services to TriWest Healthcare Alliance, the new contractor for TRICARE West as of January 1. These issues include non-payment of claims, difficulties with authorizations, credentialing issues, and challenges with customer service. AOTA needs additional information to advocate for affected providers with TRICARE. Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) affected by the challenges associated with TriWest are encouraged to email AOTA at Regulatory@aota.org. Please include as many pertinent details as possible in your correspondence, ensuring that no protected health information (PHI) is disclosed. Please note that because these issues are so widespread, we are unable to assist individual practitioners but we may contact you for clarification or additional details. |
WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER! Join or renew your membership in OTAC and AOTA to support your associations in their efforts to advocate for the OT profession both locally and nationally! Want to see policy changes? Need help advocating with insurers and stakeholders? Need informational resources for education or to advocate for your practice? Have a practice issue question? OTAC and AOTA are your associations here to help! Your small investment makes a HUGE difference in our ability to continue to advocate for you and affect policy changes that will benefit your practice and the clients you serve. AOTA Annual Conference
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Conference Registration Discounts |
Exciting new Member Benefit! Have you ever wished there was an easy way to connect and network with fellow Colorado OTAC member OT/OTA practitioners and students? We have!
Announcing the new OTAC Colorado OT/OTA Directory created in partnership with OT Potential! FREE listing for OTAC members!
Apply for a board position, volunteer for a committee, attend an event, start a district or special interest group, share your ideas! |
OTAC Board members are volunteers dedicated to the support and advancement of occupational therapy practice in Colorado! |
Board meetings are held virtually from 6:30-8:30PM - Jan 27th - March 24 - May 26 - July 28 - Sep 22 - Nov 24 Register here! |
All board meetings follow Roberts Rules of Order to complete board business. |
Upcoming Events
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The 2025 legislative session will be starting up soon! If you are interested in joining the Legislative Committee (must be an OTAC member) write to | OTAC: Advocating for OT practice in Colorado for over 30+ Years Colorado State Bills OTAC Monitored in 2024 Have a practice issue or question? Contact OTAC |
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ABOUT OTACOTAC is the Occupational Therapy Association of Colorado. It is a non-profit organization that strives to increase the quality of care and level of professionalism to the practice of OT in Colorado. The Occupational Therapy Association is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all users. We are actively working to improve the user experience and comply with accessibility standards. If you encounter any issues or need assistance, please email us. We strive to address all concerns promptly.
Have a feedback or need more help? Email info@otacco.org |
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