ASHA's State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARs)
A State-Based Reimbursement Network
The State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARs) are ASHA-member audiologists and speech-language pathologists who advocate in their states for improved health care coverage and reasonable reimbursement. Their targets are key decision-makers in private corporations, public agencies, and the local legislature. Examples are health care insurance executives, benefits administrators, state insurance department officials, and state congress members. STARs create advocacy strategies and share skills with the state speech-language-hearing associations that appoint them.
STARs form a true network. They link states together and to ASHA through monthly conference calls, a STARs-only e-mail discussion group, and periodic meetings. STARs are individuals who:
- are proactive;
- will eagerly assist colleagues and others with advice and information;
- can help seek solutions when members face challenges to their economic viability; and
- must count on their colleagues (you) to help them effectuate positive changes in private health insurance and Medicaid.
Look for your state's STAR in the roster, below. Communicate reimbursement questions or concerns to your STARs!
Don't see a name for your state? Step up to the plate and get involved! How can you become a STAR? Contact your state association president to volunteer and your nearest STAR for details.
E-mail questions to reimbursement@asha.org.
STAR Network Roster
Alabama
Judy Mann (SLP)
judy.mann@chsys.org
Alaska
Nancy Lovering (SLP)
nlovering@gci.net
Arizona
Amy Heck (SLP)
amy@teamed.net
Arkansas
Cheri Stevenson (SLP)
cheri@accessschools.org
California
Shellie Bader (SLP)
sbader@speechassociates.com
Colorado
Ann Pendley (SLP)
pendley@frii.com
Kim Lich (SLP)
kim.lich@tchden.org
Connecticut
Meghan Krodel (SLP)
megkrodel@gmail.com
Delaware
Kristen Palmer (SLP)
kmac@comcast.net
District of Columbia
No representative
Florida
Lisa Rock (SLP)
lisa.rock@ebshealthcare.com
Georgia
Margaret Ann Parker (SLP)
margaretaparker@bellsouth.net
Hawaii
Dorothy Craven (SLP)
tookie@pixi.com
Idaho
Tammy Emerson (SLP)
ilvtalk@cableone.net
Illinois
Kim Pritikin (SLP)
kpritikin@therapycare.com
Indiana
Susan Rockafellow (SLP)
srockafellow@hancockregional.org
Iowa
Susan Fagg (SLP)
SFagg@mercydesmoines.org
Kansas
Gentry White (SLP)
gwhite@pixius.net
Kentucky
Ann Miller (SLP)
foghorn78@fuse.net
Louisiana
Shelley Chesney (SLP)
shelley.chesney@gmail.com
Maine
Melanie Lajoie (SLP)
speechmattersinc@aol.com
Marisa Small (SLP)
mkaras@wchi.com
Maryland
Gloria Petit-Claire (SLP)
gloria.petitclair@gmail.com
Massachusetts
Sharon Frank (SLP)
sfrank@vocalcare.com
Edith Trafford (SLP)
lancith@aol.com
Michigan
Tim Weise (SLP)
tweise@gchosp.org
Minnesota
Sarah Hanson (SLP)
sarahchanson@hotmail.com
Mississippi
Leslie Hammond (SLP)
therapyzone@aol.com
Jeffalyn Trammell (SLP)
spechlpath@aol.com
Missouri
Anna Campbell (SLP)
alcampbell@ucmo.edu
Montana
Carol Morse (SLP)
mumsey05@bresnan.net
Nebraska
Kristy Weissling (SLP)
Kweissling2@unl.edu
Nevada
Diane Ross (SLP)
dianeross@thecontinuum-reno.com
New Hampshire
No representative
New Jersey
Robert W. Woods (AUD)
Rwwwoodssha@cs.com
Barbara Schwerin-Bohus (SLP)
bschwerinbohus@hackensackumc.org
New Mexico
Michael Kaplan (SLP)
stachemannm1@yahoo.com
New York
Ann Gordon (SLP)
ann.gordon@att.net
Barbara Leader (SLP)
BLJL1@aol.com
North Carolina
Vanessa Raynor (SLP)
vraynor2004@yahoo.com
North Dakota
Kitsy Radermacher (SLP)
kitsyr@aol.com
Ohio
Michelle Burnett (SLP)
mburnett@chsc.org
Katrina Zeit (SLP)
katrina.zeit@cchmc.org
Oklahoma
Teresa Bierig (SLP)
tabierig@yahoo.com
Oregon
Nicole Collings (SLP)
nicole@ashastar.placeholder.org
Kathy de Domingo (SLP)
Kathy@progrehab.com
Pennsylvania
Linda Torres (SLP)
linda.torres@chp.edu
Anne Gilbertson (SLP)
amgilberts@aol.com
Rhode Island
No representative
South Carolina
Andrea Lary (SLP/A)
therapyc@atmc.net
South Dakota
Laura Barbera (SLP)
speechgirl@rushmore.com
Tennessee
Lynne Harmon (SLP)
lynneellen@aol.com
Terri Philpot (SLP)
terrilynnslp@aol.com
Texas
Julie Noel (SLP)
jbnasha@aol.com
Utah
Joyce Maughan (SLP)
ldjmaugh@ihc.com
Vermont
Linda Hazard (AUD)
Linda.Hazard@vtmednet.org
Virginia
No representative
Washington
Jennifer Sherley (SLP)
jsherley@hsdc.org
West Virginia
Pat Ford (SLP)
therapyllc@aol.com, wassonford@aol.com
Wisconsin
Sally A. Conway (SLP)
sallyslp_2@hotmail.com
Wyoming
Heidi Ferriman (SLP)
heidi_blackfaerie@yahoo.com
The contact information was current at the time it was submitted to ASHA by the network representative.