Nebraska Becomes the Critical 10th State to Adopt the Interstate Compact

The Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) reached a significant milestone today when Nebraska became the 10th state to sign ASLP-IC legislation into law. Ten states were needed to adopt the ASLP-IC for the process to begin to make the Compact operational. To date, the participating states include Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The ASLP-IC benefits ASHA members by:

• Allowing licensed audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to practice in person or through telehealth services across state lines without having to become licensed in additional ASLP-IC states
• Permitting audiologists and SLPs to provide services to populations currently underserved or geographically isolated
• Allowing military personnel and spouses to maintain their profession when relocating

The ASLP-IC benefits the public by:

• Increasing access to patient, client, and student care
• Facilitating continuity of care when patients, clients, and students relocate or travel
• Certifying that audiologists and SLPs have met acceptable standards of practice

The next step is to create the Compact Commission, made up of an audiologist and SLP from each Compact state. The Commission will be responsible for ASLP-IC oversight and the creation of necessary rules and bylaws. This is expected to occur within one year. ASHA members and the public will begin to benefit from the ASLP-IC in 2022.

Questions?

For more information, visit https://aslpcompact.com/ or contact Susan Adams, ASHA’s director of state legislative & regulatory affairs, at sadams@asha.org.