One of the new features of the ATRA Mid Year Professional Issues Forum this year was the inclusion of the ATRA Congress at the closing session of the Forum on March 29, 2000. The ATRA Congress comprised of two delegates from each chapter who met to officially develop the public policy platform statements during and after the ÒATRA Day on the HillÓ. During this session the ATRA Congress voted to approve each individual statement with the recommendation to the ATRA Board of Directors for action in May 2000. (editor's note: see next issue for board action results).

The statements as approved include:

* To develop processes to assure member follow up and public policy team tracking of legislative contacts.

* To affirm recreational therapy's continued active role in the rehabilitation team under Medicare's new Rehabilitation Prospective Payment System (RPPS) to be implemented April 1, 2001.

* To affirm the appropriate utilization of recreational therapy treatment minutes in satisfying the intensity of screening criteria (3-hour rule) within inpatient comprehensive rehabilitation.

* To achieve authorization of the inclusion of recreational therapy as a provider of Medicare outpatient service when delivered as active treatment by a nationally certified recreational therapist.

* To achieve the inclusion of recreational therapy treatment minutes along with other rehabilitation therapies in the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 2.0 for skilled nursing facilities.

* To develop a biannual "ATRA in the District Day" for federal public policy advocacy during years when the ATRA Mid-Year moves to other regional sites.

* To work for inclusion of recreational therapy language within the "Medicare Wellness Act of 2000".

* To develop and promote language for utilization by regulatory agencies that provides clear distinctions between recreational therapy and activity services.

* To support the development of assisted living regulations that specify minimum levels of assisted living care standards and staffing qualifications that includes the utilization and recognition of recreational therapy.

* To affirm recreational therapy's role within Medicare's mental health partial hospitalization incremental billing code and coverage criteria.

* To achieve authorization of the inclusion of recreational therapy minutes as part of rehabilitation therapy minutes in the Medicare A skilled nursing payment classification system.

If you would like additional information about the ATRA Congress or platform statements, please contact me at (703) 834-5894. Thanks to all the chapters who sent delegates to the ATRA Congress!