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Progress Report, October 2003
Using information obtained from ASHA members, the Legislative Council identified issues of concern related to culturally and linguistically diverse populations, schools, and use of technology. Based on these issues, the Executive Board identified the following Focused Initiatives and associated outcomes. Because of the magnitude and complexity of the issues, the Executive Board recommended to the Legislative Council that these Focused Initiatives receive special resource allocations for the years 2001-2003. The Legislative Council agreed to this recommendation. National Office staff are developing specific work plans to achieve the desired outcomes .
Focused Initiative: Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Populations
ISSUE: Demographic and caseload changes related to culturally/linguistically diverse populations require the acquisition of knowledge and skills by ASHA members to meet the needs of these groups, the provision of additional and improved services to these populations, and an ASHA membership that reflects the culturally diverse groups in society.
OUTCOME 1: Increase the number of racial/ethnic minority members of ASHA.
OUTCOME 2: All ASHA members will have access to ASHA resources developed to facilitate the acquisition of cultural competency for increasing and improving service delivery to multicultural populations.
ISSUE:
A full scale, multi-faceted approach at the federal, state and local levels is needed to address ASHA member concerns indicating that many service programs in the schools require caseloads for speech-language pathologists and audiologists that are too high in number to provide quality services, that salaries are not commensurate with the specialized knowledge and skills needed to provide quality services, and that many state and local policies impede the ability of speech-language pathologists and audiologists to provide quality services in the schools.
OUTCOME 1: Increase the number of states that use total workload time activities, including but not limited to IEP meetings, administrative tasks, diagnostic time, paperwork, consultation, planning time, and frequency and duration of direct clinical service to determine the number of cases that can be adequately and appropriately served.
OUTCOME 2: Increase the number of states that link the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence through legislation and regulation as a means for salary increases for school-based ASHA members.
OUTCOME 3: All school-based ASHA members will have access to information about evidence-based practice related to provision of quality services and access to ASHA products, information, and activities necessary for full implementation of IDEA.
Read the Work Plan for 2003
Focused Initiative: Use of Web-based and Advanced Technology
ISSUE: ASHA and its members need to improve their use of Web-based and advanced technology to enhance the provision of personnel preparation, provision of clinical services including telepractices, and program administration and to provide value-added programs and services for members, consumers, and the public by making available general and customized knowledge, information, e-commerce, and advanced electronic communication capability.
OUTCOME 1: ASHA' s Web site will be recognized as the national and international portal for obtaining knowledge, information, and other resources related to communication sciences and disorders, and speech, language, and hearing for audiologists, speech-language pathologists, speech, hearing, and language scientists, consumers of service, and the general public.
OUTCOME 2: All ASHA members will have increased knowledge and access to ASHA products, information, and activities related to the use of telepractices in the delivery of clinical services in audiology and speech-language pathology.
Read the Work Plan for 2003
The above focused initiatives approved by the ASHA Executive Board on July 16, 2000
Focused Initiative: Health Care Reimbursement
ISSUE: Coverage rules and reimbursement rates are increasingly affecting access to, and scope of services provided by audiologists and speech-language pathologists.
PROPOSED OUTCOMES:
Outcome 1: ASHA members will have access to information and tools to effectively negotiate with private health plans to ensure appropriate coverage criteria and equitable reimbursement rates.
Outcome 2: Increased number of employers that cover comprehensive speech-language pathology and audiology services in their health benefits package.
Outcome 3: Increased number of states introducing legislation that mandates appropriate coverage of audiology and speech-language pathology services.
Outcome 4: ASHA members will have access to information and tools to help them effectively navigate state funded insurance programs (e.g., Medicaid, CHIPs) at the state and local level to ensure appropriate coverage criteria and equitable reimbursement rates.
Read the Work Plan for 2003 | Go to Web-based Resources
Review our 2000 Priority Issues
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