AOTA has been working alongside advocates across the country to help increase the number of occupational therapy practitioners providing mental and behavioral health services in our country. Currently there are two bills, one in the House and one in the Senate that would help people with a mental or behavioral health disorder gain access to occupational therapy.

The bill in the House is the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act (H.R. 4933). This bill would provide loan forgiveness for mental health professionals, including occupational therapists, who practice in areas designated as having a shortage of mental health professionals. Passage of this legislation would help people access the mental health care they need, even if they live in a mental health professionals shortage area. It would also help more new OT graduates take positions within mental health settings, by providing loan forgiveness. Finally, if signed into law, this bill would help include occupational therapy in the definition of mental health provider, helping with current state and local efforts to expand OT’s role in mental health.

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