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Issue Focus: Advocacy
Headlines | Featured Question | Continuing Education | Shop Online
Welcome to Access SLP Health Care, a bimonthly e-newsletter that addresses the specific needs of speech-language pathologists working in health care.
Use the "Send to a Friend" link on the right-side of this page to let your colleagues know about this e-mail newsletter, and encourage them to subscribe!
We hope you find Access SLP Health Care informative, practical, and easy to use. Check out the information, resources, services and education opportunities you need to help you succeed. ASHA...working to keep you connected.
Upcoming topics include clinical issues in pediatrics and adults. Let us know what you'd like to learn about by sending an e-mail to AccessSLP@asha.org.
Headlines
- Participants needed to complete reimbursement survey
ASHA's Health Care Economics Committee is reviewing the valuation of CPT (©, American Medical Association) codes used by speech-language pathologists and developing a survey to help determine the amount of work and expense involved in each procedure. In order to have sufficient data to present to the AMA, we need as many SLPs as possible to volunteer to participate in the process. The survey won't occur for a while but we need to be ready when the time comes. If you are interested in participating in the survey process, e-mail nswanson@asha.org.
- Government Relations and Public Policy Board needs your input
Each year ASHA's GRPP Board recommends legislative and regulatory priorities for the association. These recommendations are based on input from members. Let your voice and concerns be heard. Take a look at the 2005 Public Policy Agenda to see ASHA's current priorities.
- Summer peer review opportunities
ASHA practice policy documents are developed by members like you. Documents related to dementia and autism will be available for peer review this summer. This is your opportunity to provide input into policies that affect your practice. Check back often as documents become available!
- Medicare Alert
Frustrated that you can't bill Medicare for your services? Worried that the therapy caps will negatively affect patient care? Have you called your members of Congress? Have you had your patients do the same? It's easy - do it now.
- Promoting the unique value of SLP services in health care settings
More and more often, SLPs in health care settings have to work to raise the awareness of other professionals, consumers, and payers about the value of speech-language pathology services. ASHA has information that can be used for direct encounters with case managers, physicians, and others who need to better understand what SLPs do and why SLPs are the best qualified professionals to provide speech, language, and swallowing services.
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Featured Question – Advocacy-Your Voice is Essential
What can I do to ensure that my voice is heard in Congress and that my elected officials support speech-language pathology legislation?
Grassroots advocacy is essential to getting SLP-related legislation passed in Congress. ASHA lobbyists work hard to persuade members of Congress to back SLP legislation, but nothing can replace the impact of personalized, well-thought out communication (either by e-mail or phone) from a legislator's constituent. If every SLP would commit to write, call, visit and follow up with their members of Congress, and have at least one patient or family member do the same – our success rate would increase dramatically. One common complaint expressed by congressional staff--representatives and senators--is that they are not hearing from large numbers of the voters 'back home.' Our lobbyists depend on each and every SLP in ASHA to increase our influence. We have provided tools to help you advocate for your profession by contacting and meeting with your representatives on Capitol Hill.
ASHA's Take Action advocacy site allows you to customize and send direct messages to your federal legislators on important professional issues. The key to writing an effective and persuasive communication is to spend just a few minutes personalizing your message. You can include local/state data, personal anecdotes, etc. to make your message unique. Congressional insiders say personalized e-mails get the most attention.
Tips on "Capitol Hill Basics," including making a personal phone call to Congress, writing a letter/message to a legislator, visiting Capitol Hill, communicating with congressional staff, and learning about the legislative process, are available on ASHA's Web site. This page also has a link to an online searchable congressional directory, where you can find your representative and/or senators and their contact information.
Information is also available on state advocacy.
For more information on federal grassroots advocacy, please contact Linda Lucas at llucas@asha.org or by phone at 202-624-8198.
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Licensed in Florida? ASHA has good news for you! ASHA will transmit your ASHA CEUs to Florida's continuing education tracking database, CE Broker. But, first, we need your Florida license number(s) and permission to transmit the CEUs.
Products for Your Practice
Learn more about the products ASHA has developed, including handouts, posters and brochures, to help you educate consumers about communication disorders and the role of speech-language pathologists.
Subscribe to E-mail alerts for journals
Take advantage of an ASHA member benefit! Receive an e-mail alert when new issues of each of the four ASHA journals are posted on the Web.
Remember: To start receiving this free bimonthly e-newsletter, please send a blank email with the word "subscribe" in the subject line to Access-SLPhealthcare-request@lists.asha.org.
The next issue of Access SLP Health Care will be posted in September 2005.
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