American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 2012 Public Policy Agenda

Introduction

The ASHA Government Relations and Public Policy Board (GRPPB) is charged with developing an annual public policy agenda that prioritizes the advocacy activities of the Association and, in particular, the Government Relations and Public Policy (GRPP) Cluster.

Issue objectives were identified by ASHA members, committees, and staff. Over 2,200 individuals and/or groups provided input for the 2012 agenda. The issue objectives were then developed through the GRPPB and prioritized to focus and strategically plan the Association's advocacy activities. The GRPPB members responsible for this agenda are Diane Golden (chair), Les Aungst, Ellen Estomin, Charlette Green, Regina Grimmett, Mary Hooper, Nancy Mellon (public member), Sharon Ringwalt, Robert Turner, Shelley Victor, Thomas Hallahan (monitoring vice president), and George Lyons (ex officio).

The issue objectives are intended to address the major public policy concerns of audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Each issue objective for 2012 is assigned to one of two priority levels based on: (a) its importance to the Association's members and/or those they serve, (b) level of resources required to make progress, and (c) its immediacy and likelihood that meaningful action will occur.

Each of the 2012 issue objectives was assigned to one of the following priority levels:

• Proactive Advocacy – Association resources will be committed and proactive advocacy initiatives undertaken to further achievement of these issue objectives.
• Opportunistic Advocacy – When opportunities arise, association resources and advocacy activities will be utilized to further achievement of these issue objectives.

The order of the issue objectives within each priority level is not a reflection of its relative level of importance. Since the course of Congress, state legislatures, or federal and state agencies can change, the Government Relations and Public Policy Board and GRPP Cluster view the placement of these objectives as flexible. If a particular issue becomes more visible politically or appears to be headed toward consideration, the Association's level of activity will be adjusted accordingly.

The GRPP Board has further organized the 2012 issue objectives into three categories:

1. Education
2. Health Care
3. Professional

Issue objectives were placed in these three categories based on their primary focus; however, some overlap multiple areas. The 2012 PPA has continued the narratives that accompany each issue objective to help better describe the types of advocacy initiatives to be undertaken in the coming year.

The GRPPB also engages annually in strategic planning to address both emerging and long-range issues. This facilitates the preparation of attainable, measurable objectives for the Association's annual public policy agenda. The GRPPB will be responsible for submitting an annual report on the success of the 2012 Public Policy Agenda.

Proactive Advocacy

Education Issues

Association resources will be committed and proactive advocacy initiatives undertaken to further achievement of these issue objectives.

• Advocate for ESEA as a funding source for early intervening speech-language pathology and audiology services, promote policies that address the role of speech-language pathologists and audiologists in general education, and advocate for the use of terminology that is consistent in both ESEA and IDEA to support struggling learners in all schools.¹
• Advocate for maintaining current IDEA funding levels, monitor opportunities for increased funding and promote IDEA policies that increase service delivery efficiencies.²
• Develop paperwork reduction strategies in collaboration with critical stakeholders including the educational community, disability advocates, parents/guardians/families, ASHA members and federal/state agencies.³
• Support laws, regulations and policies that improve classroom acoustics, such as U.S. Access Board regulations for classroom acoustics using ANSI 2002 standards as part of ADAAG for new school building construction and/or renovations.⁴

Health Care Issues

Association resources will be committed and proactive advocacy initiatives undertaken to further achievement of these issue objectives.

• Promote a comprehensive audiology Medicare benefit which includes diagnostic, monitoring, rehabilitative services, and an opt-out provision.⁵
• Promote improved public and private coverage policies, regulations, and reimbursement rates for audiologists and speech-language pathologists across the age-span, including:
  • Recognition of the value of speech-language pathology and audiology services in the Resource-Based Relative Value System
  • Reimbursement coding systems: ICD 9CM/ICD 10 CM, CPT, ICF, Level II HCPCS
  • Inclusion of speech-language pathology and audiology services and equipment as covered under habilitative and rehabilitative services as essential benefits under the Affordable Care Act
  • Hearing aid tax credit
  • Sustainable growth rate
  • Therapy caps exceptions process
  • Discipline-specific alternatives for the therapy caps on speech-language pathology services under Medicare Part B outpatient program⁶
• Ensure that private and public insurance policies include habilitative coverage of speech, language, and hearing services and devices.⁷
• Promote a comprehensive system of children's hearing health care services, including:
  • the implementation of the Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) program, with specific focus on comprehensive follow-up, appropriate intensity of intervention, and coordinated management across state and federal agencies;
  • insurance coverage of hearing aids, cochlear implants, and related devices and services; and
  • the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss.⁸

Professional Issues

Association resources will be committed and proactive advocacy initiatives undertaken to further achievement of these issue objectives.

• Further recognition of the CCC as the benchmark for professional standards across federal and state legislation, regulations, and licensing in areas such as IDEA, ESEA, and Medicaid/Medicare. Use that benchmark to promote universal licensing and reciprocity in order to ensure quality services for individuals with communication disorders.⁹
• Develop and disseminate model language, along with common nomenclature for states that explicitly define the credentials, competencies, and service delivery options for CCC SLPs and SLP Assistants in an effort to support delivery of quality services to individuals with communication disabilities.¹⁰
• Increase recruitment and retention of the full continuum of speech-language pathology and audiology personnel to be available to meet the needs of individuals with communication disorders.¹¹

Opportunistic Advocacy

Education Issues

When opportunities arise, association resources and advocacy activities will be utilized to further achievement of these issue objectives.

• Promote policies that ensure appropriate billing by IDEA providers for reimbursement by Medicaid and/or other insurers for speech, language, hearing services, and equipment.¹²
• Support modification of Social Security retirement benefit laws (Government Pension Offset & Windfall Elimination Provision) for public sector employees who are in a non-Social Security retirement system.¹³

Professional Issues

When opportunities arise, association resources and advocacy activities will be utilized to further achievement of these issue objectives.

• Support speech-language pathologists and audiologists as employees/consultants of state agencies or in other leadership roles to advocate for comprehensive and quality services that meet the needs of consumers with communication impairments.¹⁴
• Advocate for recognition and coverage of telepractice services and monitor opportunities for funding through state and federal legislation and regulation.¹⁵
• Promote research funding opportunities and evidence-based practice through the National Institutes of Health, Department of Education (OSERS/IES), Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, and Veterans Health.¹⁶
• Support laws and policies (e.g., ADA, ENDA, and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) that promote non-discrimination based on disability, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, and cultural or ethnic heritage.¹⁷