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reader, we need YOU to take action!
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The NC General Assembly Health Committee meets tomorrow to address the Medicaid budget. Here is how you can make your voice heard:
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1. Reach Out to Your Legislators Today
Please take the opportunity to contact your individual Senate and House members to thank them for fully funding the Medicaid rebase and to ask them to consider increasing the Medicaid fee schedule for occupational therapy services. Feel free to use the information below to support your request.
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2. Tips for Writing to Your Legislators
Legislative staff are reviewing all emails and calls. Please keep these important reminders in mind:
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- Share your personal story — how the current reimbursement rates impact your practice, your workload, and your salary
- Include your clients' experiences of OT's value, while remaining HIPAA compliant
- Speak about what will happen to OT services in NC if access continues to decline due to unsustainable reimbursement rates — fewer providers, reduced quality of care, and longer wait times
- Write only to your own personal representative(s)
- You can find contact information for your state House and Senate members here
3. Why This Matters
Tomorrow, May 19, the NC General Assembly Health Committee meets to address the Medicaid budget, and we are deeply grateful for the committee's commitment to the health of North Carolinians.
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Please take a moment to sincerely thank our legislators for their work in fully funding the Medicaid rebase — this is a tremendous win for patients and providers across North Carolina, and it does not go unnoticed. However, despite this significant achievement, there is still important work to be done.
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We respectfully ask that the Medicaid fee schedule be considered for a rate increase for occupational therapy evaluations, re-evaluations, and treatment codes. NC's OT Medicaid rates have fallen nearly 14% below what they were 20 years ago — and the current reimbursement rates are simply not sustainable for occupational therapy practitioners.
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Rising costs of living, combined with the growing financial burden of advanced professional education required to enter the field, are making it increasingly difficult for OT practitioners to continue serving Medicaid patients. Without meaningful rate reform, North Carolinians will continue to face growing barriers to accessing this essential care.
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Occupational therapy serves North Carolinians across their lifespan. For children with developmental delays, autism, and disabilities, early OT intervention builds the foundational skills needed to thrive in school and daily life — with research showing that timely early intervention helps approximately two-thirds of children substantially improve developmental outcomes. For adults and older North Carolinians, OT reduces hospital readmissions, prevents falls, and supports safe, independent living at home.
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Fair reimbursement rates ensure that Medicaid patients across our state — regardless of age or zip code — can access these proven, cost-effective services.
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We thank the Health Committee for their service and their continued attention to this important issue. Thank you in advance for keeping this momentum of advocacy going for our profession and the NC community.
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We are grateful for your participation in this outreach as we remain committed to communicating the advocacy needs of occupational therapy in North Carolina.
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Please share this post and encourage your colleagues and community to contact their legislators today.
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Thank you,
Dawn Solomon OTD, OTR/L
NCOTA Legal and Political co-chair
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The best way to support OT advocacy efforts in NC is to be a member of NCOTA.
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We rely on member dues and volunteers to support all occupational therapy practitioners, students, and educators in our state.
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Without you, none of this would be possible.
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