2006 Focused Initiatives

Focused Initiative: Reimbursement in Health and Education

Third Quarter Progress Report (July-September)

For each of the 2006 Focused Initiatives, a work plan that includes the strategies to be completed in 2006 was developed. During the 3^rd quarter of the year, the strategy implementation teams initiated activities necessary to complete the strategies by the dates indicated. View the 2006 work plan for each Focused Initiative. The following report highlights some of the actions that were initiated during the 3^rd quarter and includes information on the status of all strategies included in the work plan at the end of the 3^rd quarter. Note that many of the strategies are continuing throughout the year and during any one quarter there may not be any new activities/deliverables that were completed. For additional information related to ASHA's Focused Initiatives, please contact Stan Dublinske, Senior Advisor for Planning at sdublinske@asha.org.

3^rd Quarter Highlights

A new ASHA Web page for Appealing Health Plan Denials was posted, including sample denial letters.
The Employer Insurance Packet, which is currently available only in hard copy, is being updated and will be posted on the Web for member and consumer use.
Flash drives containing the ASHA model health plan benefits have been given to representatives of the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) and attendees of the 52^nd Annual Employee Benefits Conference who said they would be negotiating for speech and hearing benefits.
The State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARs) network was "activated" to begin contacting business/health coalitions and their members in their area now to promote insurance coverage for speech-language pathology and audiology.
The Medicare Intermediaries and Carriers (MICS) network continues to grow and has 36 members representing 31 states. CMS policy documents have been provided to all members of MICS to help all in appeals of cognitive communication therapy denials.
A comprehensive overview of Medicaid has been added to the Medicaid Web page on the ASHA Web site.
A power point presentation about audiologic rehabilitation (AR) reimbursement has been completed for use by audiologists, speech-Language pathologists, and the STAR members in facilitate advocacy for coverage of audiologic rehabilitation.
Links have been added to AR information on the Audiology & Audiologists ASHA Web site.
The School Finance Committee (SFC) Web page has been revised to include; funding advocacy success stories, a Medicaid funding flow chart, a table of federal, state, and local grant opportunities, tips for grant writers, and do's and don'ts for advocacy.