Advocacy – IOTA

We Are YOUR Voice and We Lobby for YOU!

Advocacy is crucial to the profession of Occupational Therapy, and the IOTA is your voice in state Legislation, The Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licensing (IBOL), and to 3rd parties such as Medicaid and insurance companies that affect how OTPs practice, how we bill, how we are reimbursed, how we are employed, and the impact that we have on our patients.

The IOTA has made some great impacts and positive strides for current OT Practitioners through our strong advocacy efforts.

Advocacy opportunities are frequent.

The IOTA advocates quarterly at both Medicaid and IBOL meetings. In addition, IOTA events such The Governor Proclamation Signing always held during OT Month and Legislative / Hill Day are held within the Capitol building to meet the Governor and Legislators in-person. Each member who attends Legislative/Hill Day or participates in other advocacy efforts can earn PDU’s, meet our Legislative Consultant, Caroline Merritt, as well as our IOTA Legislative / Reimbursement Chair for IOTA.

Stay Connected

IOTA posts updates, as well as alerts and/or calls for action for our members in this area and on our Facebook page. There is strength in numbers and in being an informed citizen. Your legislators do want to hear from you, and they welcome your phone calls and especially face to face visits!

Quick Links to get you started:

IOTA Legislative Consultant

Caroline Merritt

Caroline is the Managing Director of True North Public Affairs, a full-scale association management firm specializing in member relations, communications, conferences and events, administrative and financial management, government affairs, and lobbying for clients operating throughout the state of Idaho. Formerly, Caroline served as the Public Relations Director for the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce. In that role, she oversaw media relations and communications, Chamber programs, and played a major role in the Chamber’s many events and conferences. As the Chamber’s lobbyist, Caroline advocated on behalf of members on critical public policy issues at the local, state, and federal levels. Previously, Caroline served as a Special Assistant for External & Intergovernmental Affairs for Secretary Dirk Kempthorne at the U.S. Department of the Interior and as the Communications & Public Affairs Manager for an international trade association in Washington D.C. Caroline also served as a White House intern under President George W. Bush. Caroline is an active member of the Treasure Valley community, serving as President of the Board of Directors for the Idaho Botanical Garden, and as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Lung Association – Idaho Chapter, and the Aquarium of Boise. She also is a member of the Health Vision Council for the United Way of the Treasure Valley and the Steering Team Chair for the Mountain View High School of Business. Caroline is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Boise. Caroline earned a B.A. in Political Science from James Madison University and an M.A. in Political Communication from The Johns Hopkins University. Caroline is also a Candidate for a Ph.D. in Public Policy & Administration at Boise State University.