OF WYOMING BOARD OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Public notice is hereby given that the Wyoming State Board of Occupational Therapy intends to amend Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 5. These rules and regulations are proposed by authority of the Board to regulate the qualifications and establish standards of performance for persons licensed as occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in Wyoming. These rules provide for enforcement and proper administration of the provisions of the Occupational Therapy Practice Act. These proposed rules are available for review on the Board's web page at http://occupationaltherapy.wyo.gov.

Written comments should be submitted to the following address no later than January 18, 2021.

Wyoming State Board of Occupational Therapy

2001 Capitol Ave #105

Cheyenne, WY 82002

Comments may also be sent by email to maxie.cordova@wyo.gov.

A public hearing will be held by the Wyoming State Board of Occupational Therapy if requested by twenty-five (25) persons, by a governmental subdivision, or by an association having not less than twenty-five (25) members. Requests for a hearing should be directed to the agency at the above address by the date specified above. Notice of the hearing will be provided to all persons making a timely request therefore.

Commenters may request a statement of principal reasons for overruling the consideration urged by the commenter. If requested, the statement will be issued either prior to or within thirty (30) days after agency action.

Dated this 27^th day of November 2020. Maxine Cordova

Executive Director

Maxine Cordova

For Adoption of Regular Rules

The Wyoming Board of Occupational Therapy is proposing to amend Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 5 of its rules. Most importantly, the Board intends to define and clarify the use of “Dry Needling” and “Physical Agent Modalities,” two practices increasingly used by occupational therapists nationwide. The Board does not currently have rules governing these practices. The Board is proposing to require that occupational therapists be trained in the use of these practices before they can incorporate them into their work.

The proposed amendments also address comments the Board received regarding what level of supervision occupational therapy assistants and limited licensees require from fully-licensed occupational therapists. The Board is proposing to reduce the amount of supervision some levels of OTA require and proposing to allow all supervisors to supervise their charges through live video and audio connections. Licensees remain free to supervise their assistants and limited licensees more stringently.

The Board is also proposing to require that occupational therapists’ continuing education courses directly concern occupational therapy. In addition, the Board is proposing to clarify how much continuing education new graduates must obtain before they first renew their license. Because a recent graduate would receive less benefit from continuing education, the Board is proposing to allow recent graduates to submit fewer continuing education hours.

The Board is also proposing to implement the provisions of the Wyoming Homeland Security Act that require the Board to allow licensees in other states to practice during states of emergency. The Board is proposing to implement those provisions by allowing professionals licensed in other states to practice in Wyoming under an emergency license which would come into effect by operation of law.

Finally, the Board is proposing to allow licensees to use credit or debit cards to pay their license renewal fees.