North Carolina § 90-270 - 180. (Contingent effective date - see note) Purpose.

§ 90-270. 180. (Contingent effective date - see note) Purpose.

The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate interstate practice of occupational therapy with the goal of improving public access to occupational therapy services. The practice of occupational therapy occurs in the state where the patient or client is located at the time of the patient or client encounter. The Compact preserves the regulatory authority of states to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure. This Compact is designed to achieve the following objectives: Increase public access to occupational therapy services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses. Enhance the states' ability to protect the public's health and safety. Encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating multistate occupational therapy practice. Support spouses of relocating military members. Enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information between member states. Allow a remote state to hold a provider of services with a compact privilege in that state accountable to that state's practice standards. Facilitate the use of telehealth technology in order to increase access to occupational therapy services. History (2021-31, s. 1.) Article Has a Contingent Effective Date. - Session Laws 2021-31, s. 2, provides, in part: "Section 1 of this act becomes effective when at least 10 states have enacted the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact set forth in Section 1 of this act. The North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy shall report to the Revisor of Statutes when the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact set forth in Section 1 of this act has been enacted by the 10 member states."'