AOTA Gets Profession Addressed on House Floor in Federal Loan Repa...( Legislation Goes to Conference Co...),Health

Legislation Goes to Conference Committee Next Before Final Version is Voted On

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --- A loan repayment program for professions of "national need" will include occupational therapists if an agreement made on the House floor is agreed to by the Senate. AOTA staff worked fast and furiously to have the issue addressed on the House floor late last week. AOTA was able to have Representative Tom Price of Georgia ask on the floor of the House that occupational therapists be included as the bill moves to conference with the Senate.

"This victory underscores the importance of political action," said Christina A. Metzler, AOTA Chief Public Affairs Officer. "AOTA members have done a great job of communicating with their members of Congress. When it came time to quickly lobby for the inclusion of our profession in this bill, many Members were already aware of the value of occupational therapy services."

The College Opportunity and Affordability Act, H.R. 4137, which reauthorizes the Higher Education Act, was passed on the House floor on February 7. S. 1642 was passed by the Senate in July 2007.

Representative Price of Georgia spoke to an amendment by Representative Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania, which added to the list of occupations required to address "national need." Such occupations are appropriate for federal loan repayment support. The program allows for up to $2,000 per year for 5 years in repayment if professionals work in particular areas. For therapists, the bill cites working with "children, adolescents, or veterans" as the criteria for loan repayment.

Representative Price, an orthopedic surgeon, said that he views occupational therapists as "integral to the healing process" and noted that AOTA had contacted him. Representative Sestak also pointed out that the evidence for need referenced occupational therapists. He agreed to work to ensure that occupational therapists are inc
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