ASHA Advocate: June 9, 2025
June 9, 2025
Act Now as Budget Battle Shifts Into Senate
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation that makes significant changes to many federal programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. Alongside many other groups representing clinicians, ASHA has urged Congress to revise and/or remove the most harmful provisions that will impact access to crucial health care—including audiology and speech-language pathology services.
The Senate will likely consider the bill in the coming weeks so now is the time to act. Learn more about this bill and write your Senators today to protect the professions and the people you serve.
ASHA’s Updated State Resources
ASHA’s state-by-state webpages have a new look! The streamlined information on each state includes basic state license information, Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) member status, and telepractice, school-based, assistants, and early intervention requirements. Audiologists and SLPs can also find contact information for their state licensing and regulatory agencies to inquire about state licensure processes.
While visiting the state-by-state pages, use your ASHA login to check out legislation ASHA is tracking in your state!
CMS Revises Definition of SLP for Part B Services
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently updated the definition of a qualified speech-language pathologists for outpatient (Part B) services in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual which has significant implications for provisional licensees—including clinical fellows (CFs). Following ASHA’s request for clarification, CMS has advised that those who are provisionally licensed may not provide services to Medicare beneficiaries under Part B. ASHA recognizes the significant impact of CMS’ interpretation and is committed to rectifying this situation. Read more here.
Watch for Important Survey on CPT Codes for Rotational Vestibular Assessment
ASHA audiology members: Please be on the lookout for a survey sent on or around June 6, 2025, from noreply@qemailserver.com. You may be selected to take part in a survey from ASHA and the American Medical Association (AMA) about the value of services related to rotational vestibular assessment. This survey helps determine how Medicare values these services based on your professional work. Your input is crucial, so please check your inbox and spam folders! Learn more about your critical role in the CPT code survey process.
For questions, contact Inoka Tennakoon, ASHA’s director of health care policy for coding and reimbursement, at itennakoon@asha.org.
Nominate a Public Official for the 2025 ASHA Public Service Award
ASHA is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Public Service Award—its highest honor exclusively for public officials. This prestigious award recognizes an elected lawmaker or politically appointed policymaker who has made a significant contribution to the fields of audiology and/or speech-language pathology, positively impacting the clients, patients, and students we serve. For more information, including candidate requirements and nomination guidelines, visit ASHA's Public Service Award page. The deadline to submit a nomination is June 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Nevada Protects and Updates Scope of Practice of Audiologists, SLPs, and SLPAs
Advocacy win! With support from ASHA, the Nevada Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and other organizations, Nevada AB 177 was amended and passed. ASHA advocated [PDF] for removing provisions from AB 177 that would expand the scope of practice for hearing aid specialists inconsistent with their education and training. The bill’s final version made these changes while preserving crucial provisions that allow audiologists to dispense hearing aids without needing separate dispensing endorsements and ensure compliance with federal regulations for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. This legislation also made significant updates to the licensing law for SLPs by revising the activities that constitute the practice of speech-language pathology to include stroboscopy and nasal endoscopy, along with updating the SLPA licensing law.
Working for You
- Advocacy win! The Nebraska Speech-Language-Hearing Association successfully advocated for amending LB 332, removing provisions that would expand the scope of practice of hearing instrument specialists to include tinnitus management and other services inconsistent with their education and training. The final bill includes updates to the audiology scope of practice to comply with federal OTC hearing aid rules.
- Advocacy win! On May 13, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1075, a bill to adopt the ASLP-IC, into law. Arizona is the 35th state to adopt the ASLP-IC alongside the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- ASHA submitted a comment letter [PDF] in response to Nevada SB 257, which revises requirements governing 1) the statewide standard for assessing and evaluating certain individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 2) early intervention services for individuals with ASD. This proposed legislation could lower the standard of care and limit access to appropriate services for people with ASD in Nevada. This bill has passed the Senate and is in the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee. ASHA has been working with the Nevada Speech-Language-Hearing Association to address the problems with the bill.
- The ASLP-IC Commission posted its second newsletter [PDF], which contains state legislative updates from ASHA staff member Susan Adams.
- ASHA Advocacy continues to meet with individual state associations to discuss priorities and ways ASHA can support state associations.
- ASHA Advocacy staff participated in the State Education Agencies Communication Disabilities Council (SEACDC) meeting to share updates and continue to strengthen our collaboration in support of school-based members.
- ASHA drafted and signed a letter circulated by the Friends of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus urging Senate leaders to oppose harmful Medicaid provisions in the House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1).
Spotlight!
Thank you to the Council of State Speech-Language-Hearing Associations Presidents (CSAP) for the opportunity to collaborate at the annual CSAP Spring Conference in Orlando, Florida. Both associations continue to work together to support state association leaders!
