Louisiana Occupational Therapy Association

Past Legislation

Where would we be if LOTA didn't exist? We would be at high risk of losing parts of our scope of practice, which would ultimately lead to loss of OT jobs in the state of Louisiana.


2023	HB41 Telehealth reimbursement for OTs - signed into law as Act 336 signed into la SB186 OT Compact - was signed into law as Act 263 SB 20 Provides relative to hospital service districts and scholarships for certain healthcare professionals (specifically naming OT) - signed into law as Act 33 HB516 Provides for placement of a special identification sticker or decal on a motor vehicle operated by a person with autism spectrum disorder or their guardian (OT is specifically named as a driving evaluator) - signed into law as Act 172 HB 506 Creates the Louisiana Interagency Council on Homelessness within the office of the governor (LOTA will designate one member to the council) - signed into law as Act 314 HB 21 - Provides relative to extended leave for school bus operators and public school employees (includes other school system employees such as occupational therapists) - signed into law as Act 133 While they did not specifically impact OT, our organization also strongly supported HB 449 - Provides relative to the rights of voters with disabilities - and HB 121 – Requires public schools to provide at least one recess period per school day K-5th - both of which were signed into law After the closing of the legislative session, House Bill 1 (budget bill) was quickly passed, including a $100 million blanket cut to the LA Department of Health. This included cutting Medicaid funds upwards of $12.4 million for occupational therapy services. THANK YOU to all LOTA members who contacted the governor’s office. He heard our demands and utilized his line-item veto authority to prevent this “unnecessary, painful” cut.
2015	Ensured the autonomy of OTs over Recreational Therapists regarding the provision and supervision of therapeutic activities and therapeutic activity programs in the psychiatric setting impacted legislation to prevent chiropractors from expanding their scope of practice to be similar to OT's scope of practice Assisted in revising and updating the rules governing OT practice, set by LSBME, to support ethical and role-appropriate practice and supervision by practitioners
2014	Impacted legislation to prevent athletic trainers from performing therapeutic exercises to treat medical conditions
2013	Ensured funding for the Early Steps Childhood Disability Intervention Program via creating an authorized fee schedule
2012	Helped restore a $1.3 million cut to the Community Based Program for Early Steps
2010	Clarified legislative wording in order to cover OTs under the Medical Malpractice Act
2008	Required the health insurance provide coverage for both prosthetic devices as well as prosthetic services Clarified that OTs would not be prohibited from practicing, within our scope, in regards to orthotic devices including splints Ensured that "occupational therapy" was included as "standard benefits" of rehabilitation services in health insurance policies
2007	Limited the ability of Athletic Trainers to modify their definition of "athletes" to include treating "the physically active"
2003	Gained "increased sources of referral" for OTs, as well as for access without referral, for limited indirect and consultative services relative to the LSBME

LOTA is run by OT practitioners volunteers who strive to carryout LOTA's mission for the good of all Louisiana OT practitioners.

linda@rivermgt.com

(225) 291-2806

LOTA, PO Box 14806

Baton Rouge, LA 70898