EL-OTD Students at the 2025 AOTA Hill Day

By Grace AbouAssaly

AOTA Hill Day provided me with an invaluable opportunity to network, advocate, and deepen my passion for the profession I will soon be practicing. The experiences and connections I gained will stay with me throughout my career. Having previously advocated on Capitol Hill with the LEND Program, I felt both honored and excited to return for this event. I entered the day passionate about advocacy and left with that feeling multiplied. Looking ahead, I hope to pursue an internship or capstone project in advocacy with AOTA. I was fortunate to connect with several AOTA leaders and will continue building those relationships as I work toward this goal.

The meetings I attended with legislators were powerful and informative. I was paired with Kara Welke, a private practice owner who also helps occupational therapists build their own practices. She shared insights and personal experiences, making her an incredible resource.

Together, we met with six legislators: two North Dakota senators and one North Dakota representative (Kara’s constituents), and two Iowa senators and one Iowa representative (my constituents). From Kara, I learned the difference between home health services, which are billed through Medicare Part A, and outpatient in the home, which is billed through Medicare Part B under the physician fee schedule. Learning about the reimbursement rates and the decline in provider pay was all new information to me. I plan to continue looking into how we can advocate for legislation so that our pay and reimbursement rates can improve and support professionals in the important work they do.

Throughout the meetings, I contributed my perspective as a student preparing to enter the workforce. To add to Kara’s concerns on provider reimbursement and pay, I emphasized the importance of accessible education to continue to encourage folks to enter the occupational therapy profession. In all, the meaningful and life-changing work we provide must be recognized and compensated accordingly. It was encouraging that the staffers were engaged, asking questions, and expressed genuine commitment to address these issues with the legislators they work with.

I am deeply grateful to the BU faculty and staff for supporting me in this opportunity. Experiences like AOTA Hill Day not only strengthen our profession but also equip students, like me, with essential advocacy skills. I hope that more students can take part in these impactful meetings with legislators. Looking forward, I would be eager to help organize and facilitate BU OTD Hill Days in Boston or Washington DC.