is more of a place to stabilize individuals , provide that 24 hour supervision they may need , and offer medical support , and other basic needs . This program is an answer to that , which began over 10 years and did start with lawsuits that came from residents in nursing facilities . Only in the last year has OT really stepped up in the picture and become a part of the program . This program is the perfect place to work on living skills , ADLs to high level IADLs , and health management . So , observing the problem and the way the program works I think it is clearly important why OT practitioners should care .
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN YOUR DAY TO DAY PRACTICE ?
Everyone is short staffed . A lot of staff turnover because it ’ s a lot of hard work and can be intense at times . Sometimes clients / individuals don ’ t do well and end up back in a facility , or someone who is stable while in the facility and then destabilizes once out . We work with many individuals with substance abuse and other serious mental illnesses , which can be challenging . When we are short staffed , I often need to step outside of my role . This can lead to burnout , and that ’ s one of the biggest challenges to try and do the best you can and maintain a work life balance and to have a good relationship with coworkers so you can support each other in times of need .
WHAT DOES FUNDING / FINAN- CIAL SUPPORT LOOK LIKE IN YOUR SETTING ?
Typically , it depends on agency grants that exist from the state of IL . The IDHS grant says the program requires an OT practitioner . Some agencies have more [ OT practitioners ], and one way to do that is having OT practitioners fall under QMHP qualified mental health professionals to do some billing , but this ( reimbursement ) would be half of what OT codes can be reimbursed from Medicare .
WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE AT A LEGISLATIVE LEVEL TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND WHAT CAN IL OTPS DO ?
There is an AOTA legislation article about a bill ( H . R . 3150 / S . 1578 ) recognizing OT practitioners as mental health professionals . The purpose of this piece of legislation is not specifically for OT practitioners , but within it OT practitioners are included in the list of eligible Mental Health professionals . So , this could support adding OT definition within a QMHP and thus get that approval from Medicaid / Medicare to bill in a community mental health setting or outpatient mental health setting . But , what I am observing at the other community mental health agencies is that they are working within their agencies ’ budget as well if they saw the worth [ of OT services ]. We are seeing at the state level that they are seeing the worth .
WHAT IS A STRATEGY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE VALUE OF OT FOR CCMTP ? WHAT IS ONE GREAT WAY TO MOVE US FORWARD AND NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT .
An action step is talking about it . Some of that is on the OT practitioner individual level . For example , what we are doing right now with this interview spreading the word that this exists . You should know as a student and OT practitioner that there are opportunities to work in the community in that most natural setting and get excited about it and address those health inequities . Advocacy works at the federal and state levels to get more funding or change legislation and include OT under the definition of mental health practitioner so we can bill efficiently . Share the AOTA link and let legislators know that you support this . Becoming a part of what AOTA and ILOTA already has to offer . Through the HCH SIS and ILOTPAC you can opt in for email alerts .
WHAT DOES ADVOCACY MEAN TO YOU ? YOU ' VE TOUCHED ON THIS THROUGHOUT AND CAN ELABORATE . BUT IT SOUNDED TO ME LIKE EDUCATION WAS THE FOCUS . Ruby Loera , COTA / L
Ruby ( she / her / hers ) is a novice practitioner in Early Intervention . She is interested in Pediatrics , Mental Health , Community Outreach programs , promoting and advocating for bilingual services in OT
Yes , a huge part of it . Finding that cause that you care about also comes down to the individual . Advocacy is so related to OT , kinda funny . I went into explaining the program by talking about the person , individual level , because we care about humans and what humans care about . Having them be as independent as possible and advocate that they have autonomy , access to certain rights , equity within health care , and lives .
Woman with glasses and long hair , smiling .
Illinois Occupational Therapy Association | 2022 ISSUE 4 4