ASHA Advocate: May 5, 2022
May 5, 2022
The Top Line
Happy Better Hearing and Speech Month! ASHA has launched a number of advocacy efforts this month to raise awareness of the impact that audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have on people with communication disorders. Take 5 minutes to partner with us and make a meaningful impact!
Education Advocacy: Making a Meaningful Impact
Many of the challenges faced by SLPs and educational audiologists, such as caseload numbers and workspace, are the result of decisions made by local or state administrators—not as a result of public policy. While ASHA continues to support members in self-advocacy with administrators, we are also undertaking new efforts to partner with the U.S. Department of Education and develop research and guidance for the purpose of influencing administrator decisions on the state and local levels. Lend your voice to this critically important effort today!
Medicare's Influence Across Payers
Audiologists and SLPs will read a lot about Medicare on ASHA’s advocacy pages. This is because Medicare policy (e.g., payment rates, service values, coverage decisions) remains very influential with state Medicaid programs and private payers across the country. Partner with us on efforts to eliminate Medicare reimbursement cuts, expand Medicare telehealth coverage, and expand critical coverage of and access to audiology services.
Working for You
- ASHA engaged with House and Senate Appropriations Committees advocating for increased funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
- ASHA joined the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities urging increased funding for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s Learning Disabilities Research Centers and Learning Disabilities Innovation Hubs.
- Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) cosponsored H.R. 2168, the Expanded Telehealth Access Act, ASHA-endorsed legislation that would deliver permanent telepractice authority in Medicare for audiologists and SLPs. The legislation has 66 bipartisan cosponsors.
Spotlight!
THANK YOU to the 111 ASHA volunteer leaders who took part in 160 virtual meetings this week with lawmakers and Congressional staff to kick off Better Hearing and Speech Month!
