| NEWSRoom | Source: AOTA | |
First Occupational Therapist Appointed to CPT Editorial Panel |
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The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) proudly announced the appointment of three of its members in advisory capacities to American Medical Association committees associated with the Common Procedure Terminology (CPT)® system. Leslie F. Davidson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, has been appointed by the AMA House of Delegates to the Editorial Panel. To replace Davidson as AOTA’s CPT advisor, AOTA has appointed Mary Johanna McGuire, MS, OTR/L, OTPP, FAOTA, to serve on the CPT Healthcare Professionals Advisory Committee (HCPAC) which reviews the development of new codes and redefinition of or updates to existing codes. Additionally, AOTA appointed Mary Katherine “Katie” Jordan, OTD, OTR/L, as alternate advisor to the Relative Value Update Committee (RUC) HCPAC Review Board, which oversees the determination of values for codes. Mary Foto, OT, CCM, FAOTA, is currently AOTA’s advisor on the RUC HCPAC Review Board. She has represented the interests of occupational therapy practitioners on this committee since its inception in 1993. She also previously served as co-chair of the HCPAC Review Board for six years, representing the interests of all non-physician practitioners on the RUC. Dr. Davidson, interim director and associate professor of occupational therapy at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia., was appointed to the 17-member CPT Editorial panel by the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. She was selected for the position by the advisors from the CPT HCPAC. The CPT HCPAC consists of the chair of the CPT Editorial Panel and 16 non-physician practitioner specialty advisors. As one of two HCPAC representatives, she will represent issues relating to codes used by non-physician practitioners at panel meetings. She is the first occupational therapist to be appointed to the CPT Editorial Panel. “It is an honor to be the first occupational therapist on the CPT Editorial Panel and to represent the interests of my colleagues in all non-physician specialties,” Davidson said. “I believe my election to the panel is a reflection of the respect healthcare professionals have gained for the field of occupational therapy and acknowledgment of occupational therapists’ contribution to the complex healthcare systems in which we all work. It is also recognition of the work AOTA has done on the advisory panel for many years.” Davidson, an AOTA member from Great Falls, Virginia, holds a PhD in human development from Virginia Tech, an MS in infant child mental health from Johns Hopkins University, and an MA in occupational therapy from New York University. She specializes in head injury, cognition, visual perception, and participation. She is also an ORISE Faculty Fellow at the Army Surgeon General's Office, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Division. In her new position as CPT Advisor, McGuire will replace Davidson and represent occupational therapy’s interests at the CPT HCPAC. McGuire holds a MS in health sciences education and evaluation from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a BS in occupational therapy from Ohio State University. She is in private practice in Akron, Ohio, working with a group of occupational therapists who serve older adults aging in place, and survivors of traumatic brain injury who reside at home. She also teaches continuing education courses. “I am looking forward to working with all of the professionals on the CPT HCPAC and representing occupational therapy in this interdisciplinary group,” said McGuire. “I sincerely hope that all occupational therapy practitioners will stay alert and respond to requests for input from AOTA regarding coding issues; there are major changes being discussed in response to federal concerns regarding Medicare costs. It is a pleasure to be joining the occupational therapy experts who have been working on these important issues on behalf of all practitioners.” As alternate advisor to the review board, Jordan will work with Foto. Dr. Jordan holds a MA in occupational therapy and OTD from the University of Southern California, a BA in psychology and social behavior and a BA in dance from the University of California, Irvine. She is an associate professor of clinical occupational therapy at the University of Southern California and the associate chair of USC occupational therapy clinical services. She has been an AOTA member since 2001. “It’s an honor to represent AOTA in this capacity,” Jordan said. “I am very fortunate to work closely with my mentor, friend, and AOTA past president Mary Foto on this important AMA committee.” Both McGuire and Jordan were appointed to the positions by AOTA President Dr. Florence Clark. Developed in 1966, CPT is used extensively throughout the United States as the preferred system of coding and describing healthcare services. It is used in federal programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. The CPT Editorial Panel meets to revise, update, or modify CPT codes, descriptors, rules, and guidelines, and discuss issues associated with new and emerging technologies as well as difficulties encountered with procedures and services, in relation to CPT codes. The purpose of CPT is to provide a uniform language that accurately describes medical, surgical, and diagnostic services, and it serves as a means for reliable nationwide communication among physicians, healthcare providers, patients, consumers, and third parties. The HCPAC Review Board is a sub-committee of the RUC, allowing direct participation of allied health professionals in the process of making relative value recommendations for new and revised codes. |
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