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Dry Needling Advocacy: A Tale of Two States
This video is a presentation provided in part by past president Cindy Blackwell, OTD, OTR/L, that highlights the process that TNOTA followed to get dry needling into the TN OT Practice Act. Cindy’s part of the presentation begins at about 34 minutes, but the entire presentation contains relevant information for OTPs in Tennessee.
2025 Hill Day Recap & Advocacy Update Session
State and Federal Advocacy Update 2024
TNOTA is offering a pre-recorded continuing education course entitled “State and Federal Advocacy Update 2024” now through Aspire OT. This course is free to TNOTA members and non-members and is worth 0.5 hour CE credit.
About This Course: In this webinar, presenters will share their insight, experiences, and advice for advocating for occupational therapy both in Tennessee and at the federal level. This will include updates on current legislative topics.
Course Objectives:
Through participating in this event, attendees will be able to do the following at the close of the session:
- Locate and access TNOTA advocacy resources on the website.
- Identify the role of the TNOTA advocacy committee, the TNOTA legislative chair, and the TNOTA lobbyist.
- List a legislative issue currently being discussed at the state level and/or the national level.
Presenters: Stephanie Lancaster & Rosemary Lewis
Stephanie Lancaster graduated with a degree in occupational therapy from Washington University in St. Louis in 1991. She has worked as an OT educator since 2013 and serves as associate professor in the OT program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. She holds an M.S. in Leadership & Policy Studies and a Doctorate of Education in Instruction & Curriculum Design with an emphasis on Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Memphis. She served as the co-facilitator of the TNOTA Pediatric Community of Practice for several years before moving into the role of TNOTA President.
Rosemary Lewis OTRL, CTP, CBIS is an OT practicing in the Cardiovascular and Medical Intensive Care Units at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is a Certified Trauma Professional and Brain Injury Specialist and has advanced training in early mobility and rehabilitation for patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. She serves as the co-chair of the Advocacy Committee for TNOTA and is an associate reviewer for the Journal of Acute Care Occupational Therapy.
In Memoriam: Susan S. McDonald, EdD, OTR/L
The occupational therapy community and TNOTA mourns the loss of Susan S. McDonald, a dedicated leader, educator, and advocate, who passed away last week. Susan’s influence on the profession, her commitment to service, and her passion for advancing occupational therapy will be deeply missed.
Susan served as the Chair of the TNOTA Legislative Committee, a role that underscored her lifelong dedication to advocating for occupational therapy professionals and their clients. Before retiring in 2023, she was an Associate Professor and the Founding Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), where she shaped the careers of countless students, occupational therapists, and others and set high standards for academic excellence. Her educational journey included a doctorate from UTC and both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and Occupational Therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Throughout her career, Susan held numerous leadership roles in state OT associations, including President, President-Elect, and District Chairperson, and served as both a member and Chairperson of the State Regulatory Board. Known for her commitment to ethics and jurisprudence in the profession, she provided training to hundreds of occupational therapy practitioners and students across the state, ensuring a high standard of professionalism within the field. Additionally, her service extended to several boards focused on supporting children and families, further reflecting her commitment to making a positive impact in her community.
Susan’s contributions to occupational therapy will be remembered for their depth, compassion, and vision. Her work has enriched the field, inspired her peers, and left a legacy that will continue to shape future generations of occupational therapists. We are grateful for her contributions and celebrate her life, her work, and her unwavering dedication to our profession.
TNOTA members and others are invited to donate to the charity designated by Susan’s family in her memory, United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley via the button below.
Advocacy Resources
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AOTA State Regulatory Monitoring Report
As of December 10, 2024, AOTA has prepared and released a state regulatory monitoring report. This report contains important information about regulations that are being tracked at the state and federal level, which stand to have an impact on OT practice in the state of Tennessee.
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Tennessee Telehealth Practice Explainer
This explainer provides OT Practitioners and Students in Tennessee with up to date information and resources related to telehealth practice and coverage and serves as a directory of resources for telehealth.
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A Roadmap to Making Changes to the TN OT Practice Act
This document outlines the legislative steps TNOTA goes through to make changes to the TN OT Practice Act, also referred to as the TN OT Rules and Regulations.
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OT Advocacy Toolkit
The Advocacy Toolkit serves as a foundational resource to develop and support your advocacy knowledge and skills, especially at a state-systems level. It is created with students in mind, ensuring the information is accessible and digestible.
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Find Your Legislators
To better inform yourself on issues that affect the provision of OT services in Tennessee, find your legislators and see where they stand on issues that impact our profession.
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Template: Letter of Medical Necessity
To better inform yourself on issues that affect the provision of OT services in Tennessee, find your legislators and see where they stand on issues that impact our profession.
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Tennessee Health Disparities Advisory Group
In April 2020, the Tennessee Department of Health's Division of Health Disparities Elimination launched the Tennessee Health Disparities Advisory Group, formerly known as the Tennessee Health Disparities Task Force, to address the disproportionate number of individuals in minority and vulnerable communities contracting COVID-19.
TNOTA believes that advocacy is critical to maintaining the health and visibility of occupational therapy in Tennessee. Membership in TNOTA supports our efforts to represent occupational therapy in legislative and regulatory affairs and gives a powerful, united voice to occupational therapy practitioners across our state. TNOTA is always working to develop more publicly available resources to enable OT practitioners, educators, and students to better advocate for our profession. If you have a resource you’d like to see, contact admin@tnota.org.
Legislative Updates
In alignment with the mission and vision of TNOTA, TNOTA continues to work closely with our lobbyists at Capitol & 5th Public Strategies as well as AOTA State Affairs to monitor legislation and regulations that impact occupational therapy at both the state and federal levels. Read about legislation we’re tracking below!
If you have any questions or input about these or other legislative or advocacy issues, please contact TNOTA as listed here.
Board of Licensure Timeline Updates (Sept 11, 2024)
Senate Bill 458, as amended in House Bill 496, makes several changes to Tennessee’s health-related licensure processes:
1. Streamlined Application Process: Health-related boards and the Emergency Medical Services Board must establish rules to expedite the application and renewal process for licenses, certifications, or permits. Applications from Tennessee residents must be decided within 60 days of submission. If additional information is needed, the board must request it within the same 60-day period.
2. Special Considerations for Military Personnel: The expedited process also applies to:
- Individuals licensed in another state whose spouse is a U.S. service member being transferred to Tennessee.
- Service members applying for a license within 180 days of retiring, receiving a discharge (other than dishonorable), or being released from active duty.
3. These individuals should either receive a full license if their out-of-state credentials are substantially equivalent or a temporary permit to practice until their credentials are fully reviewed.
4. Administrative Staff Changes: Health-related boards and the Emergency Medical Services Board can request the replacement or transfer of their administrative staff or assigned attorney by the Department, subject to a majority vote.
5. Effective Date: The act took effect July 1, 2023.
Senate Bill 296, as amended in House Bill 779, updates the licensure process for health professions in Tennessee with the following changes:
1. Processing Time: Health boards must decide on completed licensure applications from out-of-state or District of Columbia applicants within 45 days of receipt. This includes issuing the license or providing reasons for denial.
2. Effective Date: Currently in effect.
C5 Update - May 7, 2024
Key legislative highlights from the 2023-2024 leigslative session. Click here to read more.
C5 Update - March 28, 2024
Legislation spotlight and legislation to watch in the State Senate and committees. Click here to read more.
TNOTA Update - May 17, 2023
TNOTA is grateful to our lobbyist partners at Capitol & 5th Public Strategies for diligently tracking bills impacting the occupational therapy profession. Check out their summary of the legislation we tracked on a state level in 2023. Of note- TNOTA worked with our friends at the Tennessee Association of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists (TAASLP) to pass a bill requiring our respective licensure boards to review and make a determination on licensure applications within 60 days of receiving a completed application. This will expedite the licensure application process and hold the licensure boards to a higher standard of accountability.
TNOTA Update - Feb 12, 2023
TNOTA continues to work closely with our lobbyists at Capitol & 5th Public Strategies, as well as AOTA state affairs to monitor legislation and regulations that impact occupational therapy at both the state and federal levels. Read about legislation we’re tracking here!
End of Legislative Session Report (May 12, 2022)
The second half of the 112th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned on Thursday, April 28th. Linked here is the C5 legislative update detailing the large initiatives passed in the last hours of session.
Linked here is TNOTA’s final bill track report for the legislative session with status updates for each piece of legislation tracked. Of special interest this session were TNOTA’s priority pieces of legislation that included SB2453/HB2655, dealing with telehealth and telemedicine services, and SB1848/HB2561, dealing with the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact.
SB2453/HB2655 was passed by both chambers of the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor going into effect on April 1, 2022. You can find the final text of the law, Public Chapter 766, here:
https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/112/pub/pc0766.pdf
SB1848/HB2561 was passed by both chambers of the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor going into effect on April 19, 2022. You can find the final text of the law, Public Chapter 839, here: https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/112/pub/pc0839.pdf
TNOTA's Lobbyists: Capitol & 5th Public Strategies (C5)
TNOTA employs a lobbying firm that closely monitors legislation and executive orders from our Tennessee government.
The firm was founded by three partners, Courtney Atnip, J.A. Bucy, and Dustin Goforth. In 2018, two additional support staff members, Heather Meshell and Erika Thomas, were hired to assist with the firm’s growth. Capitol & 5th offers an integrated approach to meet their clients’ needs and advocate for their positions.
Telehealth Insurance Coverage (2021)
With the passage of the Tennessee telepractice bill, most healthcare providers’ telehealth services are required under the new law to be covered similarly to in-person services. However, due to some of the bill’s language, this is not guaranteed for occupational therapy practitioners at this time. TNOTA is working with our lobbyists and others to help rectify this language difference in order to ensure payment parity for our telehealth services. Watch this space for updates as the situation evolves.
While some insurance providers are covering OT services via telehealth, this varies based on provider rules. TNOTA’s advocacy team has compiled a current list of telehealth coverage in Tennessee, updated 7/6/2021. This document includes link to contact insurance providers who have not yet covered telehealth services. This list will be updated as changes are made.