08/28/2025
🏛️Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact
In 2025, FOTA worked with Representative Adam Anderson and Senator Alexis Calatayud to introduce legislation authorizing Florida to join the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact. To date, over 30 states are members, and the number continues to grow. The bill had great support in the House and passed the first of its two committee references unanimously. Despite passing legislation authorizing other licensure compacts in prior Sessions, the Senate decided to take a pause on compact Legislation in 2025 and did not hear any legislation authorizing compacts during the Session. We are continuing to work with Senate leadership to gauge how the chamber will approach compacts in 2026, to determine if the legislation should be re-introduced.
🏛️Dry Needling
In 2023, AOTA issued guidance clarifying that dry needling is included within the term “physical agent modalities.” This term is currently within Florida’s scope of practice for occupational therapy, due to FOTA’s work to update the scope of practice in 2021. However, due to past litigation involving physical therapy and dry needling, it is the opinion of DOH that FOTA must pursue legislation to further clarify occupational therapists’ ability to perform dry needling. We are currently preparing evidence and a corresponding strategy in anticipation of seeking legislation in the near future.
🏛️Medicaid Reimbursement
In 2024, FOTA was successful in advocating with the Legislature to secure a 10% Medicaid rate increase for occupational therapy – the first rate increase in decades. FOTA continues to advocate for Medicaid reimbursement issues, including additional opportunities for increased payment rates, oversight of third-party administrators, and utilization of appropriate CPT codes.
