THE AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION, INC. (AOTA)

BUD · Budget/Appropriations

No bill number - Continued funding for NIH and NIDILRR No bill number - Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Grant funding No bill number - Advocating for support of the occupational therapy workforce No bill number - Advocating for mention of occupational therapy in mental health grants No bill number - Support for Lifespan Respite and increased funding for National and Native American Family Caregiver Support Programs in FY26 LHHS appropriations No bill number - Request for appropriations report language similar to the language in H.R.4037/S.2847, the Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act No bill number - Advocating for changes to graduate student loan definitions

Literal federal measure citations: H.R.4037, S.2847

EDU · Education

No bill number - Support for continued role for the Department of Education, especially in administering IDEA and ESSA S.1277/H.R.2598 IDEA Full Funding Act - support passage No bill number - GROW SISPS Act reintroduction No Bill Number - Support for OT's role in creating an inclusive school. H.R.6574 Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act - support passage H.R.6739 Clarity in Professional Degrees Act - support passage H.R.6718 Professional Student Degree Act - support passage H.R.6677 Professional Degree Access Restoration Act - support passage No bill number - Advocating for changes to graduate student loan definitions H.R. 6862 - Protecting Health Care Workforce Pipeline Act - support passage

Literal federal measure citations: S.1277, H.R.2598, H.R.6574, H.R.6739, H.R.6718, H.R.6677, H.R. 6862

HCR · Health Issues

S.1101/H.R.2332 State Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment (SHARE) Act - support passage H.R.3655 STAR Plus Scholarship Act - support passage No bill number - Asking for potential carve out of schools from Medicaid referral requirement No bill number - Support for the inclusion of report language to expand youth awareness of 988 Lifeline and prioritize peer-led suicide prevention on campuses in the FY26 LHHS Appropriations No bill number - Support $20M for Lifespan Respite and increased funding for National and Native American Family Caregiver Support Programs in FY26 LHHS appropriations

Literal federal measure citations: S.1101, H.R.2332, H.R.3655

LBR · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace

S.1101/H.R.2332 State Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment Act (SHARE Act) - support passage

Literal federal measure citations: S.1101, H.R.2332

MMM · Medicare/Medicaid

H.R.879 Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act - support passage No bill number - Support an annual inflationary update or an increase for 2025 and 2026 to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule No bill number - Support introduction and passage of the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act No bill number - Support a resumption and extension of telehealth waivers under Medicare after the January 31, 2026 expiration. H.R.2013 Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act - support passage and introduction of similar bill in Senate H.R.1614, therapy telehealth act - support passage S.1261/H.R.4206 CONNECT for Health Act - advocate for provision to establish OTs as permanent Medicare telehealth providers No bill number - Asking for potential carve out of schools from Medicaid referral requirement S.2847/H.R.4037 Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act - support passage H.R.4204 Medicare Patient Choice Act - support passage S.2329/H.R.4475 Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act - support passage S.2830 WELL Seniors Act - support passage S.2709/H.R.5081 Telehealth Modernization Act - support passage H.R.4559 Prompt and Fair Pay Act - support passage H.R.1171/S.2612 Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act - support passage No bill number - Support legislation to repeal the Medicare Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction applied to therapy services. No bill number - Support legislation to make occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech language pathology a mandatory Medicaid benefit.

Literal federal measure citations: H.R.879, H.R.2013, H.R.1614, S.1261, H.R.4206, S.2847, H.R.4037, H.R.4204, S.2329, H.R.4475, S.2830, S.2709, H.R.5081, H.R.4559, H.R.1171, S.2612

VET · Veterans

No bill number - requested Congressional intervention related to non-payment of Tri-Care claims across the country, that are the result of a switch in vendors in January 2025. H.R.3183/S.668 SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act - support passage

Literal federal measure citations: H.R.3183, S.668

MED · Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs

No bill number - Urge NIH to continue funding for therapy research

DEF · Defense

No bill number - Request for the inclusion of H.R.2332/S.1101, the SHARE Act, in the National Defense Authorization Act

Literal federal measure citations: H.R.2332, S.1101