ASHA Advocate: August 7, 2026
August 7, 2026
CMS Proposes 2027 Medicare Payment Policies Affecting Audiologists and SLPs
ASHA released a full analysis of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which includes four new audiology and 10 new speech-language pathology CPT codes, changes to practice expense methodology, a lower Medicare conversion factor, and many other policies that can impact audiology and speech-language pathology practices.
If Congress does not act to address broader statutory payment issues, several proposals could reduce Medicare payment for audiologists and SLPs if finalized. ASHA will submit formal comments to CMS by the September 14 deadline and continues to advocate for federal legislation that would stabilize and improve Medicare payment. Advocates can take action by:
- Writing to Congress on Medicare issues;
- Signing a petition to CMS for audiology;
- Signing a petition to CMS for speech-language pathology; or
- Writing a comment letter to CMS.
Bipartisan Bill Maintains Momentum for Medicare Payment Fix
New legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Patients First Act (H.R. 9693), would address structural problems that lead to inadequate payments for outpatient Medicare services under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The bill, which ASHA supports, and provided input on, includes numerous provisions that likely would lead to higher Medicare Part B payments for audiologists and SLPs, including an annual update based on medical inflation. Take action now to support this bill.
New CPT Codes for SLPs: Understanding Medicare’s Proposal and Preparing for 2027 Webinar
Join ASHA Advocacy on Wednesday, August 26, from 3-4 p.m. (ET) for the next webinar in our series on the new speech-language pathology treatment codes. This session will focus on what CMS’ proposals mean for SLPs, what questions remain, and what members should expect as implementation approaches on January 1, 2027.
Those who cannot make it are encouraged to register. A link to the recording will be emailed the day after the event to all registrants regardless of attendance.
ASHA Advocacy Educates State Legislators About Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
In late July, ASHA Advocacy staff and volunteers from the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association exhibited at the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit in Chicago. Legislators and legislative staff from around the country attended this summit. This year’s booth focused on ASHA’s advocacy efforts surrounding the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC). Learn more about the ASLP-IC.
Pictured: Nicole Bing, ASHA's Committee of Ambassadors SLP representative for Illinois and Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association's VP for Professional Services.
Senate Education Panel Forwards Bill to Block Education Restructuring
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee has approved ASHA-supported legislation (S. 5046) [PDF] that would block the U.S. Department of Education from transferring administration of programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to other non-education-focused federal agencies like the Departments of Health and Human Services or Department of Labor. The action puts the Senate at odds with the House, which has not considered similar legislation. Take action now to preserve the Department of Education’s role in ensuring student success.
CMS Releases Home Health and Outpatient Hospital Department Services Proposed Rules
CMS has proposed updates to Medicare's Home Health payment system for 2027 that include continued payment adjustments for home health agencies, clarification of coverage and guidance for palliative care services, quality reporting updates, streamlined replacement of certain durable medical equipment, and broad changes to Medicare provider enrollment and program integrity policies.
CMS also released proposed changes for payments for services provided by outpatient hospital departments for 2027. Those changes include a 2.4% payment increase, new vestibular assessment codes, changes to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program, and an updated prior authorization process for botulinum toxin injection services.
ASHA is reviewing both proposals and developing comments for CMS ahead of the August 31 deadline.
Medicare Updates Payment Policies for Inpatient Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Facilities Effective October 1
CMS has finalized payment and policy updates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) that take effect October 1, 2026. The updates include payment increases of 2.3% for IRFs and 2.4% for SNFs. While CMS is considering future payment reforms and quality reporting changes, it did not adopt proposed speech-language pathology-specific payment reductions for FY 2027 following stakeholder feedback.
ASHA Working for You
- Supporting permanent access to telehealth services by joining advocates on Capitol Hill to deliver a telehealth voters pledge to lawmakers highlighting the importance of adding audiologists and speech-language pathologists as permanent Medicare telehealth providers. Join us in action.
- Protecting access to Medicaid services by submitting testimony for the record [PDF] to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget urging policymakers to reject further Medicaid funding cuts and program changes and by submitting comments to CMS [PDF] pushing back against Medicaid work requirements.
- Promoting access to communication services and developmental readiness by submitting comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [PDF] on the proposed Healthy People 2030 Objectives and Request for Information on Screen Time, emphasizing access to services, the distinction between recreational and communication-supportive screen use, and the importance of speech, language, hearing, and social communication.
- Protecting access to medically necessary rehabilitative and habilitative services by signing on to the Habilitation Benefits Coalition's comments urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to preserve and strengthen the Affordable Care Act's Essential Health Benefits framework.
- Preserving critical workforce resources by submitting comments to West Virginia officials [PDF] urging them to retain audiology assistant regulations.
Find more comments and testimony letters on ASHA's website.
Spotlight
Members of ASHA’s Government Affairs and Public Policy Board met last week to speak with legislators on Capitol Hill and start drafting the 2027-2028 ASHA Public Policy Agenda (PPA). In their 13 meetings, advocates urged legislators to protect Medicaid, ensure access to higher federal loan limits for CSD students, and expand Medicare coverage of audiology services. ASHA will release the 2027–2028 PPA—which guides ASHA’s advocacy efforts—in November.
Pictured (L-R): Henry Botzum, Farrah Rizwi, Gabrielle Howard, Sarah Jones, (front) Liza Guerette, Sinetra Bowdry, (front) Louis Malerba, Bethany Whidden, Collin Sexton, Sandra Reams, Meghan Ahren, Kellie Ellis
Resource Highlight
Curious about licensure in your state? Looking for a link to your licensure board or state association’s website? Check out ASHA’s collection of state and territory information to learn about licensure requirements in schools, early intervention, and more. Each state guide also contains information on assistant use and licensure as well as interstate practice status.
