| MiOTA Licensure Effort Continues for the 2008 Legislative Session |
| Report from Bret Marr
Muchmore Harrington Smalley & Associates
2/13/08
The Michgan Occupational Therapy Licensure Bill, SB921 was introduced by Senator Roger Khan on November 27, 2007. This bill will protect consumers of occupational therapy services in Michigan from receiving services from persons who do not have the educational preparation to provide skilled occupational therapy service.
Senate Health Policy Committee Schedule
The Senate Health Policy Committee has spent the past several months evaluating BCBSM’s Individual Market Reform package that passed the House last November. From what the Committee Chair and others have told us, they will mostly likely spend the rest of February discussing and eventually reporting some version of this package. This gives MIOTA a little bit of time to build grassroots support for SB 921. We hope to have the issue up in the committee in March.
Grassroots efforts
I would like MIOTA members and OT supporters to engage in a 2 stage effort again on the licensure bill. Our first focus needs to be on the Senate first and then on the House later this winter/spring. I have attached for everybody’s review, our MHSA Senate vote count sheet.
One member of the Association Assembly or Licensure Committee will take responsibility for each Senator. This will allow Erin and I the ability to talk directly to folks that we need help with. The first targets are the Senate Health Policy Committee members:
Sen. Tom George (R-Kalamazoo)
Sen. Bruce Patterson (R-Canton)
Sen. Jason Allen (R-Traverse City)
Sen. Alan Sanborm (R-Richmond, Macomb County)
Sen. Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit)
Sen. John Gleason (D-Flint)
Sen. Gilda Jacobs (D-Huntington Woods, Oakland County)
How you can help!!!
First of all, please see the attached Vote Count for the Senate. This document will be used by MIOTA and MHSA to track contacts with members of the Senate. Attached you will find the MIOTA rationale for licensure. Please use this as a template for your email or letter and personalize your note to express how licensure will help you and your clientele. There is a sample letter for your review. You will also find attached a Licensure FAQ which you can use for phone contact or emails to assist you in explaining our position.
When you contact a Senator’s office, do not be disappointed if you talk to their staff. Make sure you get the staffers name and ask if you can get a follow up call/email after they talk to their Senator.
Please make sure to email MHSA with any information, positive or negative, about your Senator and his/her position on licensure. We need initial contacts made by March 1 so please email me ASAP with who your Senator is and who else you can call. Remember, if you work in a different Senate district than the one you live in, you can contact the Senator of your home district and your work district.
As always, please feel free to contact me about any questions you have about contacting your Senator or the issue in general. We have a great opportunity to get licensure moving in Michigan, please help us explain to Senators the positive impact SB 921 will have on their constituents.
Bret Marr
Muchmore Harrington Smalley & Associates
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