ASHA Advocate: March 31, 2023
March 31, 2023
The Top Line
The start and end of each states’ legislative session varies from state to state with most of the activity occurring during the first quarter. In fact, New Mexico, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming have already adjourned for the year, while Louisiana won’t convene until April 10. This year, we’ve seen bills introduced on topics such as hearing aid coverage, scope of practice, and the Audiology & Speech-Language-Hearing Association Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC). Arkansas and Virginia became the 24th and 25th states to pass ASLP-IC legislation. Fifteen other states have introduced ASLP-IC legislation in 2023. Check to see if your state has passed the ASLP-IC and, if not, take action today by contacting your elected officials and asking them to support this important legislation!
Funding for Key Health and Education Priorities
ASHA President Bob Augustine submitted testimony [PDF] to the House subcommittee responsible for funding the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services outlining key funding priorities for improving newborn hearing screening, creating opportunities to support diverse audiology and speech-language pathology students, providing technical assistance to school-based members, ensuring resources for educating students with disabilities, and bolstering CSD research.
Addressing Health Care Workforce Shortages
ASHA submitted comments [PDF] to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in response to its request for information about ways to address health care workforce shortages. ASHA highlighted solutions to better utilize audiologists and SLPs, especially those who work in schools, urging support for establishing a communication/speech disorders technical assistance center within the Department of Education, expanding access to school-based health services, and improving workplace safety.
Working for You
- Did you know that 96% of ASHA-PAC supported candidates won re-election in November? ASHA-PAC helps you SPEAK UP for audiologists and SLPs on Capitol Hill. Read the 2022 ASHA-PAC Annual Report [PDF] to learn more and check out PAC Board chair Shari Robertson’s blog about why PAC contributions are so important.
- ASHA signed a letter to the US. Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services asking that the agencies publish overdue guidelines to stop insurers from discriminating against nonphysician providers like audiologists and SLPs.
- In a letter to the congressional committees responsible for funding the Department of Health and Human Services, ASHA called for $8 million to fund a new federal program within the Health Resources Services Administration that would provide grants to audiology and speech-language pathology programs to diversify the professions and address provider shortages.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued limited guidance for audiologists providing services without a physician order to avoid additional denials. ASHA will be seeking clarification on several issues raised by the guidance.
- Signed on to letters by the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD), including a letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee discussing the need for attention to health care workforce shortages and a letter to CMS calling for greater transparency related to state Medicaid renewal redistribution plans and the impact of public health emergency flexibilities coming to an end.
- Submitted comments to CMS on proposed rules related to 1) advancing interoperability and improving prior authorization and Marketplace plans and 2) prior authorization processes for Medicare Advantage plans
Spotlight!
"Getting to advocate at the state-level gives my passion for hearing healthcare a platform to impact a much larger group of people. It was an incredible experience to advocate for and pass the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Act in Arkansas. Advocating for this bill allowed me the privilege to represent both the profession of audiology and the military spouse community. I am excited for the positive changes this compact will bring to our state, our profession, and the people we serve. I think Margaret Mead said it best, Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has."
—Madison Howe, AuD, CCC-A
