October 2021 Advocacy Update

House May Consider Bill Adding New Hearing Benefits to Medicare

The U.S. House of Representatives may soon consider legislation called the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376) that includes hearing health provisions. ASHA has been robustly engaging Congress in collaboration with the American Academy of Audiology and the Academy of Doctors of Audiology. Further updates will be shared shortly.

House Examines Newborn Hearing Screening Program

The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on Health held a hearing on several public health bills, including the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2021 (H.R. 5561), which reauthorizes the federal program to screen newborns for hearing loss. The bill would maintain federal funding that supports state-based newborn hearing screening programs while boosting support for efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure children with hearing loss are appropriately diagnosed and receive follow-up hearing and speech services. The bill sponsors, Representatives Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Doris Matsui (D-CA), highlighted the importance of reauthorizing and improving the program, which is a key priority in ASHA’s 2022 Public Policy Agenda. Take action now to support funding for this critical program.

Key House Committee Considers ASHA-Backed Workforce Diversity Bill

The Health Subcommittee also held a hearing on other health care bills, including the Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act (H.R. 3320). Witnesses provided testimony on how diversifying the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology could improve care and outcomes, especially for historically underserved individuals. Take action today to encourage Congress to advance this important program.

Government Funding Extended

A stopgap funding bill called a continuing resolution passed the House and Senate and was enacted into law on September 30—the last day to avoid a federal government shutdown. The bill funds federal programs at their current levels until early December, when funding will need to be renewed. ASHA is working to secure permanent funding increases for special education, newborn hearing screening, and research for communication disorders in a more permanent funding bill that Congress will likely consider later this year. Take action NOW to support funding increases for IDEA and EHDI.

What ASHA’s Working On:

Representatives Attend AMA Relative Value Update Committee Meeting

Members from ASHA's Health Care Economics Committee (HCEC) attended the American Medical Association's Relative Value Update Committee (RUC) virtual meeting to represent the interests of ASHA's members in the code valuation process. ASHA monitors every meeting and actively reviews and comments on CPT code valuations across health care specialties as part of the AMA RUC process, which informs Medicare Part B coding and payment policies.

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) State Information

Each state EHDI program is responsible for maintaining and updating information on its website; however, many states lack information on hearing basics, communication options, hearing technology, and other resources. ASHA is working with the Parent Choice Alliance to review the EHDI websites to ensure information is included on communication options for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Advocating for Hearing Screening in New York Public Schools

ASHA is working with the New York City Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA-NYC) to reinstate the hearing screening requirement for children in New York City Public Schools. ASHA suggested amendments to the New York City Chancellor’s regulations from August 2012 in which the requirements for school hearing screenings were removed. ASHA sent a letter to Mayor Bloomberg and more recently Mayor De Blasio attempting to reinstate the hearing screening rule. ASHA and HLAA-NYC will work together to try and reinstate the rule through the Chancellor’s office.

Maintaining Regulations for SLPs in Colorado

ASHA sent a letter to the Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA) in Colorado [PDF] in support of continued regulation of SLPs through state certification as part of their sunset review process. DORA’s requirement for certification is the same as state licensure requirements in most of the other states. The sunset review process was completed and the state certification requirement for SLPs was upheld and will continue through 2033.

FYI:

Department of Education Expands Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The U.S. Department of Education announced a Limited Waiver Opportunity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Under the waiver, audiologists and SLPs who work for public service employers may find that more of their previous loan payments count as eligible payments and may qualify to have their loans discharged sooner. Learn more about what the limited waiver means for ASHA members and how you can apply.

New Fact Sheet on Supporting Students at Risk of Self Harm During COVID-19 Era

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the U.S. Department of Justice jointly issued a fact sheet to support students with mental health disabilities, their families, and their schools in the era of COVID-19. Along with the fact sheet, OCR released a letter to educators highlighting the civil rights obligations of schools and postsecondary institutions to students with mental health disabilities.

ASHA Advocacy at Convention

Attending Convention? Be sure to meet with ASHA’s government affairs and public policy team members and learn about issues like the interstate compact, reimbursement, licensure, and telehealth. Find out what our advocacy priorities are and how you can take action to make an impact! Find us in the Exhibit Hall A & B, booth 445. Can’t make it in person? We’re available to chat with you virtually. Visit the Convention site for more information and to register!

Join ASHA-PAC at Convention!

The ASHA-PAC Reception is on Wednesday, November 17 from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Mixx Bar in the Renaissance. Tickets are $60. Come by the Advocacy and ASHA-PAC booth 445 for pins, ribbons, and giveaways!

Student Advocacy Day Was a Success!

On October 20, ASHA teamed up with National NSSLHA for the annual Student Advocacy Day. ASHA thanks all the students who participated and recognizes National NSSLHA’s advocacy outreach that resulted in over 10,000 messages sent to members of Congress on issues impacting audiology and speech-language pathology!

What is ASHA Advocacy? Speaking out personally and professionally for making effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all.

Follow ASHA Advocacy on Facebook and Twitter.

Learn more about ASHA’s advocacy priorities in the 2021 Public Policy Agenda.