North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association

11/15/2025

📣 Thank you to everyone who has reached out to legislators and the Governor regarding the Medicaid rate cuts that took effect on October 1, 2025. We continue to hear from both lawmakers and representatives from the Governor’s office that OT practitioners across North Carolina are making their voices heard.

📄 Legislative leadership has now released a statement in response to the Governor’s call for a special session next week. You can view their statement here:https://files.constantcontact.com/aefdce84701/f066bf1b-3de4-495d-ac32-416c09838445.pdf

✨ Professionalism in Our Advocacy
As we move forward, it’s essential that our communication remains professional, respectful, and clear. Our credibility as practitioners strengthens our message. A composed, factual, and solutions-focused tone helps policymakers see that we are advocating not just for ourselves, but for the safety, well-being, and equitable care of vulnerable North Carolinians.

💬 Tips for Communicating with Policymakers
• Be concise and clear: Identify who you are, who you serve, and why the issue matters.
• Stay respectful and non-partisan. Focus on the issue—not political personalities.
• Center client impact with brief stories on how rate reductions affect children, families, rural communities, and access to care.
• Use data intentionally, such as reimbursement declines, staffing challenges, and reduced access to essential services.
• Offer solutions, highlighting the importance of funding the Medicaid rebase to preserve access and sustain the therapy workforce.
• Follow up with a thank-you after meetings or calls to reinforce professionalism.

🔄 NCOTA will continue updating members as communication with legislators, the Governor’s office, and DHHS progresses. Our outreach has been ongoing since mid-August, and we will remain engaged until the Medicaid rate issue is resolved.

❤️ We are deeply grateful for your continued advocacy—for your professionalism and your commitment to the people of North Carolina. Together, we will keep elevating the voice of our profession and working toward meaningful, sustainable solutions that protect patient access and support the future of occupational therapy.

11/14/2025

🌟 Call for Board Member — North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association (NCBOT) 🌟

The North Carolina Medical Society is often called upon to recommend physicians for key statewide boards and commissions—important opportunities to shape the future of health care in our state. Today, we’re excited to share one such opportunity with the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy (NCBOT).

NCBOT is seeking a dedicated physician to join its Board. We’re looking for someone who understands the value of occupational therapy and is committed to supporting its practice and advancement across North Carolina.

🩺 Physicians with backgrounds in psychology, orthopedics, pediatrics, or genetics may be especially well-suited—but any physician who recognizes the essential role of OT in promoting health, independence, and quality of life is encouraged to connect.

The ideal candidate will:
✔️ Understand what occupational therapy is and how it benefits individuals across the lifespan
✔️ Be excited to collaborate with OT professionals to enhance interdisciplinary care
✔️ Bring clinical expertise, perspective, and leadership to the Board

If you or someone you know may be a great fit, please reach out to Erin Grover, at egrover@ncmedsoc.org for more information or to express interest.

🤝 Together, we can strengthen the connection between medicine and occupational therapy to better serve the people of North Carolina.

11/07/2025

NCOTA had the opportunity yesterday to meet with Governor Josh Stein and DHHS to share the information we’ve gathered from our members across the state.

During this small advocacy meeting, we discussed the serious impacts of the recent 3% Medicaid rate reductions on occupational therapy practitioners and the patients we serve. We shared clear, real-world examples showing how these cuts threaten access to medically necessary care—especially for children and families who rely on early intervention, school-based services, outpatient rehabilitation, and small community-based practices.

These reductions are hitting rural areas and Western North Carolina the hardest, where providers are already limited and families often travel long distances for care. Governor Stein and DHHS listened closely and expressed support for maintaining strong access to therapy services statewide.

📅 What’s next:
The Governor has called for the General Assembly to reconvene Monday, November 10, 2025.
To restore provider rates, both the Senate and House must agree to release Medicaid funds that have already been allocated. The House supports this; the Senate has not yet agreed.

💪 Action Needed Now – Your Voice Matters!
1️⃣ Email your State Senator once a day through Monday. Keep it short, respectful, and focused on releasing Medicaid funding to protect access to therapy. https://ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators

2️⃣ Ask families, colleagues, and community members to join this effort—many voices amplify our message.
3️⃣ Act before Monday. Public engagement is essential to protect therapy access across North Carolina.

✉️ Sample email:
Subject: Support Access to Care – Release Medicaid Funds
Dear Senator [Last Name],
As your constituent, I urge you to support releasing Medicaid funds already allocated by the legislature to restore therapy provider rates. Occupational therapy is essential for children and individuals to meet developmental milestones, recover from illness or injury, and maintain independence.
The recent rate reductions are reducing access to medically necessary services and straining small practices that serve families in our community. Please ensure Medicaid funds reach the providers and patients who depend on them.
Thank you for your leadership and attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City or County]

Every email makes a difference. Thank you for standing with NCOTA and protecting access to care for North Carolinians.

11/05/2025

📣 Advocacy Update for NC Occupational Therapy Community

Governor Stein will be meeting with a small group of advocates tomorrow, Thursday, November 6, 2025 — and we have an important opportunity to make our voices heard! 💬

We’re gathering input on how the 3% funding cuts are affecting occupational therapy services across North Carolina. Please share your insights with us at ncotaadvocacy@gmail.com on:

🏥 Access to care

⚖️ Appropriate levels of care

🎯 Impact on outcomes

Your feedback will help us ensure that the Governor and policymakers understand the real-world effects these cuts are having on patients, providers, and communities.

🙏 Thank you for your continued advocacy and dedication to protecting access to quality occupational therapy services. Stay tuned for more updates and action opportunities in the days ahead!

10/30/2025

10/29/2025

🌟 Empowering Caregivers: Bridging OT Practice and Payment 🌟
Caregiver training is essential to improving client outcomes and continuity of care — yet many OT practitioners face challenges integrating caregivers into intervention and billing confidently for these services.

Join AOTA’s two-part live webinar series to deepen your understanding of caregiver training, strengthen your documentation and billing skills, and become a true caregiver champion! 💪

📅 Part 1: November 6 | 2–3 p.m. EST
✨ Empowering Caregivers: Bridging OT Practice and Payment – Part 1
Hear first-hand caregiver perspectives, explore the clinical rationale for caregiver training, and discover practical strategies to integrate caregivers into OT practice.
👉 Register here: https://www.aota.org/events/calendar/empowering-caregivers-bridging-ot-practice-and-payment-part-1

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16ojY1rCXM/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQH642kEhgL/?igsh=d3l1cjIweWJidGF0

📅 Part 2: December 2 | 2–3 p.m. EST
✨ Empowering Caregivers: Bridging OT Practice and Payment – Part 2
Gain clear guidance on coding, billing, and documentation for caregiver training—both when the client is present and when they are not.
🔜 Registration coming soon—watch the AOTA Events page for details!

🎓 Each webinar offers 1.0 CEU and will be recorded for on-demand access to registrants.

Caregiver training is a critical component of occupational therapy that improves client outcomes and continuity of care.

10/27/2025

🌍 World Occupational Therapy Day – October 27 🌍

Did you know the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) represents over 111 national OT organizations worldwide?

This day is dedicated to raising awareness of the vital work occupational therapists do across the globe and spotlighting WFOT’s impact at local, national, and international levels. Let’s celebrate the growth, innovation, and global unity of our profession! 💙🙌

10/27/2025

10/25/2025

🎉 And that’s a wrap! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who attended—we hope you enjoyed learning, connecting, advocating, and growing together as a community of OT practitioners!

✨ A special thank you to:
• Our dedicated NCOTA Board Members
• Our generous sponsers and the incredible CPCC faculty, staff, and students
• Our amazing presenters and speakers

📸 Check out the photo dump below to see some of our favorite moments and don’t forget to tag us in your photos!