MiOTA encourages and facilitates everyday advocacy. Your voice makes a difference for professional understanding, consumer practice, and legislative action.

Advocacy

Actions that support, promote, & increase awareness of something   An ongoing process to protect your scope of practice Increases access and utilization of resources Fosters networking among consumers and professionals

Legislation

Identifies a concern/ gap impacting consumers  Creates proposed policy changes to address a gap or change in public policies Advocacy activity supporting legislative actions before, during, and after policy changes to increase awareness and understanding.

VOLUNTEER TODAY FOR THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE TODAY

• Monthly meetings
  
• Collaborate with other professionals
  
• Network with legislators
• Connect with other OT's/OTA's/students

OPEN POSITIONS

• Advocacy committee members
• Lobby Day Planning Committee
• Bylaws committee

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Advocacy Committee

**Always open to new members, your voice matters, join a committee today.**

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tri - Alliance Committee

This is a group of therapists from speech, occupational & physical therapy that meet quarterly to discuss issues, inform each other, collaborate on advocacy issues impacting the state of Michigan. 

                            MiOTA Trialliance Representatives: Denise Justice, Denise Hoffman. Cara Messenlink                   

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Advocacy Committee: A group of MiOTA members (OT, OTA, and students) that meet once a month to discuss the advocacy and legislative needs of Michigan. Topics selected to address are from AOTA, our lobbyist, and OT/OTA/students input and reports. The topics are divided among committee members to lead work groups, create action plan, and share with MiOTA members.

  Public Policy: Manages legislation activity, gathers information to support advocacy needs before during and after legislative activity.  Collaborates and reports to the Advocacy Director and advocacy committee. 

   Reimbursement : This subcommittee reviews current reimbursement issues, manages inquiries from OT/OTA‘s and maintains communication with insurance providers. It reports on any Medicare and Medicaid changes/updates. MiOTA has a designated member who is our BCBS liaison due to the vast number of needs in the state with that provider.

   Friends of OT in MI PAC: This is a voluntary, nonprofit, nonpartisan Political Action Committee of members from the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association to support OT friendly candidates in legislative affairs. 

Denise Hoffman - Advocacy Director (advocacy@miota.org)     

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________