ASHA Advocate: February 23, 2026
February 23, 2026
Advocacy Intensifies for Professional Degree Classification: Take Action by February 27
ASHA is urging members to act now to ensure the Department of Education to classifies audiology and speech-language pathology degrees as “professional” degrees. In addition to submitting formal comments to the Department and educating legislators about CSD degrees, ASHA has launched multiple ways for you to engage:
- Contact your legislators by writing and calling.
- Provide comments to the Department of Education. ASHA has drafted two letters—one for audiology degrees and one for speech-language pathology degrees. Audiologists, SLPs, and students should sign one or both letters by February 27 so that ASHA can submit them before comment deadline.
Government Funding Law Includes Key ASHA Priorities, Extends Medicare Telehealth Through 2027
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026—the bill that ended the most recent federal government shutdown—includes key priorities ASHA successfully advocated for, marking an important advocacy win for audiologists and SLPs. The law extends Medicare telehealth authority through December 31, 2027 and includes grants for newborn hearing screenings and funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
ASHA continues to push for permanent telehealth authority, an effort that is gaining momentum as key senators reintroduced legislation to add audiologists and SLPs as permanent Medicare telehealth providers. The bill sponsors’ press release includes a quote from ASHA president Linda Rosa-Lugo emphasizing ASHA’s support for enacting the bill as soon as possible. Read more about these and other provisions impacting audiologists, SLPs, and those you serve.
ASHA Pushes to Increase Access to Hearing Health Care for Children on World Hearing Day
ASHA is celebrating World Hearing Day on March 3 by participating in joint congressional meetings with the American Cochlear Implant Alliance to build support for promoting newborn hearing screenings, stopping cytomegalovirus (CMV), and securing coverage of osseointegrated hearing devices by private insurers. Learn more about ASHA’s World Hearing Day efforts and take action to improve hearing care for children.
State and National Advocacy Partnership Delivers Medicaid Win in Wisconsin
In fall 2024, Wisconsin Medicaid added a physician-signed prescription requirement for hearing aids, increasing administrative burden for providers. ASHA member Dr. Brittney Gniedziejko partnered with ASHA and the Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Association (WSHA) to address the issue. Following coordinated research and engagement with Medicaid officials, Wisconsin Medicaid removed the unnecessary prescription requirement—securing an advocacy win for audiologists and their patients.
Working for You
- Advocacy win! Oregon’s Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology has decided against removing the supervised clinical experience from state licensing standards, therefore maintaining the critical bridge between academic training and professional practice. Thank you for engaging! Nearly 100 Oregonians took action alongside ASHA and the Oregon Speech-Language & Hearing Association to make an impact.
- Welcomed Ohio as the third state to issue compact privileges (following Louisiana and West Virginia). Eligible practitioners in those states can now apply for a privilege to practice.
- Provided a letter of support [PDF] for a Kansas bill, HB 2761, which would license speech-language pathology assistants.
- Facilitated congressional meetings for ASHA members to highlight the impact of federal Medicaid funding cuts and program changes in North Carolina and Idaho.
- Continued monitoring the CPT code 92507 review process. Members can find the latest updates on ASHA’s website.
- Engaged with North Dakota Medicaid to better understand recent coding and payment policy changes and shared key insights with members.
- Continued advocating for key federal legislation highlighted during ASHA’s 2025 Capitol Hill Day, bringing the total number of new cosponsors on those bills to 100.
- Provided an update on SLP Jennifer Jenkins’ campaign for federal office. Jenkins announced she is running for Congress in Florida’s 6th Congressional District following the conclusion of her U.S. Senate campaign.
Spotlight!
At the request of the U.S. Department of Education, ASHA met with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to provide input on the Department’s efforts to “return greater authority to states” while ensuring continued enforcement of laws protecting students and individuals with disabilities. During the meeting, ASHA emphasized the medical and clinical foundations of the audiology and speech-language pathology professions and the critical role audiologists and SLPs play across school and health care settings. (Left to right: Vicki Deal-Williams, ASHA CEO; Kathi Riley, Educational Audiology Association President Elect; Bill Knudsen, ASHA director of education policy)
