State Legislation - Compact Bill
CALL TO ACTION - WE NEED YOUR VOICE TODAY!
(posted 10/21/23)
The Michigan House of Representatives is about to consider House Bills 4169 and 4170, which would put Michigan into the National Occupational Therapy Compact. The House Health Policy Committee reported these bills to the House with full support from the committee on 10/12/23! Please take the time to call or email all House members and ask them to support this legislation on behalf of all OTs in the state. Please contact the MIOTA office with any questions on this important priority for our members and non-members (advocacy@miota.org). House voting will occur in the upcoming weeks and they need to hear from our profession by the numbers. Please contact representatives by Wednesday, October 25th; email contact list: https://www.house.mi.
The following house representatives have already demonstrated their support for the bills so thank them for their support in your letter vs. asking for support.
HB 4169: Julie Rogers (district 4
Robert Bezotte, Joseph Fox, V
Sample letter template:
My name is __________________, and I am an OT/COTA/student who is writing to request your support for HB 4169 and HB 4170, Interstate National Occupational Therapy Compact. Occupational therapy provides therapeutic services to help individuals achieve and manage every day activities including motor, sensory, and cognitive deficits across the life span due to conditions, illnesses, or injuries. There is a statewide and national shortage of occupational therapy services for consumers across the life span with higher shortages in our upper peninsula, along bordering state lines. and in rural areas. The compact would help bridge the gap to increase access to care and improve health and wellness for consumers, as well as allow practitioners who move into the state to begin practicing immediately while they are waiting for their new state license. HB 4169 and HB 4170 have been fully supported by the House Health Policy Committee and will be presented to the Michigan House of Representatives for consideration in the upcoming weeks! I am requesting for your support of the OT Compact. For more information on the compact please contact me or refer to the OT Licensure Compact website: https://otcompact.
Kind Regards,
*Provide your name and a contact email.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Testimony by Representative Julie Rogers and Doug Wozniak
OT testimony by Representative Rogers and Wozniak: at 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour and 19 minutes
MiOTA testimony: at 1 hour 19 minutes through 1 hour 24 minutes.
https://www.house.mi.gov/
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Compact HB 4169 and HB 4170 was introduced on 3/1/2023!
House Representative Julie Rogers introduced HB 4169 and Rep Doug Wozniak introduced HB 4170.
Thank your co-sponsors of HB 4169 and HB 4170!
Joseph Fox, Julie Rogers, Robert Bezotte, Veronica Paiz, Carol Glanville, Jenn Hill, Jennifer Conlin, Jason Morgan, John Fitzgerald,
Samantha Steckloff, Felicia Brabec, John Roth, Jamie Thompson, Carrie Rheingans, Rachel Hood, Jim Haadsma, Phil Green, Ann Bollin,
Kristian Grant, Penelope Tsernoglou, Erin Byrnes, Helena Scott, Betsy Coffia, Tom Kunse, Stephanie Young, Alabas Farhat, Mike McFall,
Jimmie Wilson Jr., Pat Outman, Amos O'Neal, Cynthia Neeley, Laurie Pohutsky, Karen Whitsett, Abraham Aiyash
Use the links below to track the progress of HB 4169 and HB 4170:
Compact Fact Sheet for Practitioners
WHAT IS THE COMPACT?
The compact is an interstate policy and formal agreement among states who have passed legislative bills to accept the compact which allows for interstate practice of occupational therapy without the need of multiple licenses.
WHY IS A COMPACT NEEDED?
- It will allow occupational therapy practitioners to practice in all states that have joined the interstate compact.
- It will increase opportunities for practice in multiple states; specifically with telehealth service delivery and those individuals living on the border of state lines.
- It will decrease gaps in obtaining a license in a timely manner for military families or other families who move between states frequently.
- It will address shortages in rural areas and specific practice areas and decreases paying for multiple state license and continuing education
HOW DOES THE COMPACT WORK?
- Once your state has signed the interstate compact bill into law, you can practice in states who have enacted the compact bill
- The OT Compact Commission will convene in 2023 to establish the rules and regulations of the interstate compact
- You can opt to maintain your individual state license or opt for a "multi state license" when you renew your state license after 2023
WHO HAS ENACTED COMPACT LEGISLATION?
- As of August 2022, 22 states have joined the national OT compact, and 10 states have pending legislation in 2023.
- Current neighboring states Wisconsin and Ohio have passed legislation. Indiana has pending legislation.
- Check out the OT Compact Map for the latest information on which states have enacted compact legislation.
- Compact privilege applications are expected to open in late 2023 or early 2024.
MICHIGAN UPDATES
- September 2022, legislation was submitted and was not voted in, however there was bipartisan support.
- Representative Julie Rogers has offered to support and resubmit the bill in early 2023.
- Continued advocacy efforts with our state representatives and throughout the profession will continue throughout 2023 to increase bipartisan cosponsorship support of this bill.
- The Michigan Psychology Association and the Michigan Physical Therapy Association has pending legislation on an interstate compact.
- We need your voice... write to your representative, meet your representative and/or attend Lansing Lobby Day to advocate for the interstate compact in Michigan.
MiOTA's Advocacy Committee:
Denise Hoffman, Chair
Caitlin Cornish
Angie Bayci
Interested in learning more or volunteering?
Contact advocacy@miota.org
OT COMPACT WEBSITE: https://otcompact.org/about/
Additional Resources:
NBCOT State Regulatory Leadership Forum Informational Webinar
AOTA–NBCOT® Joint Initiative: Developing the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact