ASHA Federal Advocacy Issues and Issue Briefs

Medicaid Coverage of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Services

Request that your members of Congress support legislative efforts to provide Medicaid coverage for speech-language pathology and audiology services. Learn more about this legislation; read the full issue brief on Medicaid Coverage of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Services [PDF].

Medicare Telepractice Coverage for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Services

Tell your members of Congress to recognize telepractice (telemedicine, telehealth, telespeech,
teleaudiology) as an appropriate model of service delivery for the professions of audiology and
speech-language pathology under Medicare. Learn more about this legislation; read the full issue brief on Telepractice Coverage for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Services [PDF].  

Multiple Procedure Payment Reductions for Outpatient Therapy Services

Tell Congress to rescind the 50% multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) that is applied across the board to outpatient therapy procedures; collaborate with stakeholders—such as ASHA—to develop clinically appropriate means to control costs and target waste, fraud, and abuse; and continue to ensure beneficiary access to medically necessary services. Learn more about this legislation; read the full issue brief on Multiple Procedure Payment Reductions for Outpatient Therapy Services [PDF].

Paperwork Burden

Request that your members of Congress seek ways to reduce cumbersome administrative and paperwork requirements in the reauthorization of both the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Encourage your members of Congress to contact schools in their districts and schedule a visit to meet with speech-language pathologists and audiologists to hear firsthand about the paperwork and administrative burden. Learn more about this legislation; read the full issue brief on Paperwork [PDF].

Medicare Outpatient Therapy Caps

Tell Congress to support legislation that would repeal the Medicare Outpatient Therapy Cap and ensure Medicare patients continue to have access to medically necessary speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy services. Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) need to develop long-term payment reform for outpatient therapy services. Learn more about this legislation; read the full issue brief on Medicare Therapy Caps [PDF].

Protect IDEA Funding

Request that your members of Congress protect federal education programs for children with disabilities from automatic federal budget cuts called sequestration. Congress should not solve the financial difficulties facing the government by trimming away funding for disabled children; they have already contributed enough to the deficit reduction. Learn more about this legislation; read the full issue brief on IDEA [PDF].

Literacy and Reading Programs

Request that members of Congress give local school districts the flexibility to use qualified and certified education professionals, such as speech-language pathologists and audiologists, as recognized providers of service under federal literacy and reading legislation and programs. Learn more about this legislation; read the full issue brief on Literacy and Reading Programs [PDF].

Medicare Coverage of Audiology Services

Request that your members of Congress support legislative efforts to provide senior citizens with a Medicare audiology benefit that would allow access to both diagnostic and rehabilitative services. Learn more about this legislation; read the full issue brief on Medicare Coverage of Audiology Services [PDF].

Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit

Request that members of Congress cosponsor legislation that would allow for a hearing aid tax credit. Learn more about this legislation; read the full issue brief on the Hearing Aid Tax Credit [PDF].

Congressional Hearing Health Caucus

Representatives Tom Latham (R- IA) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) have made a commitment to reviving the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus (CHHC) to broaden support and knowledge of hearing health issues within Congress. The CHHC aims to provide an educational setting for discussion of issues related to hearing health. Learn more about this legislation; read the full issue brief on the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus [PDF]. 

Access to Frontline Health Care Act

Request that House members support legislation that amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a student loan repayment program in exchange for health professionals providing two years of services in "scarcity areas." Learn more about this legislation; read the full issue brief on the Frontline Health Care Act [PDF].