ASHA Advocate: June 24, 2022

The Top Line

Congress has passed a bipartisan bill addressing gun violence. The legislation includes several provisions relevant to ASHA members, including expanded support for telehealth services, and over $1.3 billion to support school safety initiatives and efforts to improve learning environments.

"Gun violence affects an estimated 3 million U.S. students at school each year."

Source: Everytown USA

Advocacy on Medicare Audiologist Access Continues

ASHA continues to work with the American Academy of Audiology and the Academy of Doctors of Audiology to advance the bipartisan Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act (H.R. 1587/S. 1731) before the end of the year. Now is a critical time to build additional support for this bill by asking your members of Congress to cosponsor it. Act today to improve Medicare beneficiary access to audiology services.

Take Action

Advocacy on Medicare Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)

ASHA is committed to ensuring that the Medicare payment system for SNFs is reflective of speech-language pathology clinical practice and the needs of our patients. In recent comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [PDF], ASHA highlighted the challenges SLPs face in SNFs and provided recommendations for improving working conditions. Learn more about ASHA’s ongoing engagement on PDPM.

Working for You

• ASHA's advocacy efforts successfully reversed a Rhode Island rule that prevented students over the age of nine from obtaining speech-only services in the schools.
• An advocacy collaboration between ASHA and the Colorado Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA) resulted in Colorado’s Medicaid program changing its prior authorization request (PAR) process for speech therapy services to once every 12 months instead of every 3-6 months, matching the allowance for occupational and physical therapies. Additionally, ASHA and CSHA worked together with Colorado Medicaid to create a process for reconsideration of claims that were erroneously denied for educational reasons.
• ASHA continues advocating on state legislation to adopt the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. Missouri has joined as the 22nd state and Delaware’s bill has passed the Senate.
• Six more U.S. House members have cosponsored H.R. 7219, the GROW SISPS Act, which would help grow the audiology and speech-language pathology workforce through a grant program. Learn more and take action to help increase support for the GROW SISPS Act.

Spotlight!

Thank you, Nancy, for your ongoing leadership!

"ASHA advocacy gives me a voice at the federal, state, and local levels!"

—Nancy Kuhles, CCC-SLP, Chair, Committee of Ambassadors