< public policy

AMERICAN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION
ASSOCIATION PUBLIC POLICY TEAM 2001 PLATFORM STATEMENTS
Developed by the 2001 ATRA Congress in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 18, 2001. Approved by the ATRA Board of Directors April 2001

· Continue 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 promote to the Rehabilitation industry the affirmation of 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 continue an "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".

· 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.

· To identify, monitor and promote adequate federal funding in higher education settings for the preparation of the TR professionals.
· To identify, monitor and promote adequate federal funding for efficacy research and outcome-based results in recreational therapy.

· To work for the passage of a Patient Bill of Rights that includes provisions for:
access to specialty care,
point of Service options,
and a continuity of care provision.

· To actively support a $3 Million increase in department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration funding for demonstration projects for recreation programs for individuals with disabilities.

· To support the passage of the Family Opportunity Act (FOA) in the 107th Congress.

· To promote the inclusion of recreational therapy as a service in the Health Promotions and Wellness for Individuals with Disabilities Act 2001.

· To work for the inclusion and recognition of Recreational Therapy within the Healthy People 2010 initiative.

For more information, please contact the ATRA Public Policy Team at atrapolicy@atra-tr.org or visit the ATRA website at www.atra-tr.org