“We need
you…you
are LOTA”
“If not you, then who? If not now, then
when?”
LOTA M ISSION
S TATEMENT

The mission of LOTA is to promote
excellence in education, legislative advocacy,
public awareness and resources to advance
an evidence based occupational therapy
profession.
LOTA V ISION S TATEMENT

LOTA advances excellence in the
occupational therapy profession to meet the
needs of the society it serves in the state of
Louisiana.
W HY S HOULD Y OU J OIN
LOTA??
 LOTA is
the only entity in
Louisiana that pays for a
lobbyist to protect your
practice and
reimbursement in
Louisiana.
LOTA L OBBYIST K EVIN
H AYES
WAYS LOTA BENEFITS
FROM OUR LOBBYIST

Regularly reviews House & Senate Bills
and other legal documents that could impact
our practice in the state of Louisiana

Contacts the authors of the bills to
advocate for changes and/or modifications
so that our practice is protected
WAYS LOTA BENEFITS
FROM OUR LOBBYIST

Lobby on behalf of occupational therapy
practitioners in the state of Louisiana:
Interacts with politicians on a regular basis to
maintain rapport and promote awareness for
occupational therapy

Attend meetings representing the interest of
occupational therapy in our state

Provides legislative updates to LOTA for email
blast and website publication
E XPENSE OF A L OBBYIST

LOTA Lobbyist contract:
$15,000 annually

Other comparable healthcare
professional’s lobbyists cost on
average $20,000 - $30,000 annually
V ICTORIES
MADE POSSIBLE
BY OUR LOBBYIST
H ERE

2007 - Senate Bill (SB) 110 was relative to the
practice act governing certified athletic trainers
( legislature was attempting to change the
athletic trainer’s act by seeking to redefine
from treating an “athlete” to treat a broader
spectrum of clients.) LOTA voiced opposition
to the bill via our lobbyist. Lobbyist attended
numerous meetings


ARE JUST A FEW
THINGS …
Result: this part of the bill died on the floor
2001 - House Bill (HB) 152, added
“occupational therapists” to certain definitions
of “health care provider.”
I NSURANCE C OVERAGE
FOR P ROSTHETICS …

2008 - HB 318, Requires health insurance
coverage of prosthetic devices and prosthetic
services

2008 - HB 516, Provides relative to coverage
of rehabilitative services, physical therapy,
occupational therapy, and speech and
language pathology therapy (this provides OT
as “standard benefits” in health insurance
policies)
OT CAN RECEIVE ORDERS FROM
N URSE P RACTITIONERS …

2001 - HB 919, Allows occupational therapists
to receive orders from advance practice
registered nurses

2003 - SB, 866, Provides for increased
sources of referral for occupational therapists
and for access without referral for limited
services relative to the State Board of Medical
Examiners

2010 - HB 264, Clarified that OT’s are covered
under the Medical Malpractice Act
W ORKER ’ S C OMP
A DVISORY B OARD …

2003 - SCR 112, Creates and provides for the
Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board (OT
originally in bill, then when went to House floor
all providers were removed….something that is
monitored)

2005 - HB 333, Authorizes physician assistants
to refer patients to occupational therapists
(Lobbyist worked with Rep. Shepherd to file
this bill on behalf of LOTA)
OT’ S CAN MAKE SPLINTS …

2008 - HB 799, LOTA’s Lobbyist was
successful in amending the bill to make it clear
that the proposed law shall not prohibit a
licensed OT from practicing within the scope
of practice in regards to orthotic devices
(splints)
E ARLY S TEPS …

2012 - HB 1, Successful in restoring a $1.3
million cut to the Community Based Program for
the Early Steps Program

2013 – HB 375, Authorizes a fee schedule known
as a cost participation for services of the Early
Steps Childhood disability Intervention Program.
The funding for the program has been difficult to
maintain and HB 375 was seen as an answer to
save the program
A DDITIONAL BENEFITS OF
LOTA M EMBERSHIP
E DUCATION

Opportunity to earn up to 4 FREE CEU’s by
participating in quarterly district meetings

Discounts on continuing education
opportunities

CEU opportunities across the state

Multi-tracked Annual Spring Conference

Online CEUs Care2Learn available at
www.LOTA.org
P UBLIC AWARENESS AND
R ESOURCES

Annual Legislative Open House

Social Media

LOTA Facebook page

Email Updates

LOTA Website http://www.lota.org/
P UBLIC AWARENESS AND
R ESOURCES

Networking

LOTA Public Member Directory

Career Center

Annual Spring Conference Social and Silent
Auction

Assistance with practice area issues

Todd Poche Endowed Scholarship Fund
B OARD OF
V OLUNTEERS

Work collaboratively across the state to:

Quarterly board meetings to ensure
management and growth of the association

Promote OT & advocate for our profession

Identify continuing education needs/wants
and work to offer courses

When an issue presents, the Board works
to identify practitioners within an area of
expertise to address needs/concerns

Provide email updates
A ND LOTA
COULD DO SO
MUCH MORE ,
B UT …
W E MUST INCREASE
MEMBERSHIP …

In order to have the finances to pay for:

Lobbyist ($15,000/annually)

Management Company (~$19,400/annually)

Accountant ($350—annual taxes)

Website, Telephone, Mailings, Insurance, etc.
(~$2,500/annually)

Fees to process credit card payments
(~$2,000/annually)

Fees incurred by LOTA for convenience to members.
Payment by check saves LOTA 3% of CC fees.
WE
MUST INCREASE
MEMBERSHIP …
To
support
financial expenses
of LOTA’s
management
company:
 Process
membership
applications
 Manage
CEUs
 Alert
practitioners to
issues relative to the
profession
 Respond
to consumers in
a timely & efficient
manner
 Process
 Assure
 Update
 Assist
credit card and
other payments
the website
 Oversees
budget &
assists to update
financials on monthly
basis
database with
Bylaws are
followed
in the management
of conferences
W E MUST INCREASE
MEMBERSHIP …

To sustain and further
grow our Association

To have a greater resource
of volunteers to assist on
committees, to serve as
Board members, to
generate ideas, and to
insure our future as a
profession.
N UMBERS DON ’ T
LIE …

Of the Registered OT/OTA’s in the
state of LA only ~18% are members of
LOTA.

Our membership constantly fluctuates,
and we need continued membership
support.

Even if all current members were OT
practitioners paying $100 annual dues,
this WOULD NOT be enough to cover
our current expenses, despite significant
cuts.
C OST C OMPARISON
OT’s: $100/annually = $8.33/month
or
one less sub sandwich meal /month.
COTA’S: $75 Annually =
$6.25/month or
one less hamburger meal/month.
C OST C OMPARISON
Student: $25/annually =
$2.08/month or
one less beverage/month.
When you look at the cost compared
to everyday purchases, it really is
not that expensive.
LOTA is using this power point in a “grass roots”
effort to reach practitioners throughout our state.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved,
but at the least, please be a member and
encourage others to join! Financials are always
challenging and your membership is needed. We
hope that this presentation has answered why
your membership is important and what LOTA
provides to you as a practitioner.
Thank you
To Help Protect Your Profession
Join LOTA Today:
Phone: 1-225-291-2806
Website: www.lota.org