ASHA Advocate: February 16, 2023
February 16, 2023
The Top Line
State legislatures have kicked off the 2023 session in full gear. ASHA is actively monitoring and engaging on issues such as universal licensure, occupational licensure, and coverage for hearing aids. Legislation for the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact is moving in states across the U.S., including Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Montana, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
The Biden Administration announced the ending of the federal public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. The PHE has been in place since January 2020 and allowed for increased flexibilities such as authorization for audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to be paid for Medicare telepractice services or to waive enforcement of certain laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Find out what the ending of the PHE means for you.
The 118th Congress is up and running so now is a great time to help educate new members of Congress about how audiologists and SLPs help people with communication disorders. Take action now to urge your U.S. Senators and Representative to protect access to audiology and speech-language pathology services!
ICYMI: ASHA Advocates Help Achieve Numerous Wins for Audiologists and SLPs in 2022
ASHA’s Government Affairs and Public Policy team wants to thank ASHA’s advocates for helping us achieve numerous wins for audiologists and SLPs in 2022. Because of your help, we were able to fight for better coverage and payment for audiology and speech-language pathology services, add 8 states to the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact, increase funding for programs that support people with communication disorders, and much more. Learn more and check out our advocacy year-in-review [PDF] to see the power of our collective advocacy!
Letter to U.S. Department of Education Leads to Meeting on DLD
In a letter to Acting Assistant Secretary Neas [PDF], ASHA requested that, “the Department highlight the importance of developmental language disorder (DLD) as an explicit consideration under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its implementing regulations. This includes clarifying that nothing in federal law prohibits using a term such as DLD for evaluation, eligibility, and as part of an individualized education program (IEP).” We were very pleased to hear back from the U.S. Department of Education requesting a meeting with ASHA to discuss the concerns we shared in the letter.
Working for You
- ASHA has learned that audiologists are receiving Medicare denials associated with the “AB” modifier. More details can be found on our website along with some considerations for audiologists until a resolution is reached.
- In collaboration with the National Academies of Practice, ASHA advocated for interprofessional collaborative practice and education, as well as permanent telehealth authority with Members of Congress.
- Meetings were held with Medicare staff where ASHA advocated for coverage of caregiver training services for therapists, discussed implementation and denials of the new audiology access provisions, and reviewed telehealth data for audiology and speech-language pathology services.
- In response to requests for information and solicitations for comments on proposed federal rules and other issues impacting audiologists and SLPs, ASHA has submitted formal comments on topics including Medicare Advantage prior authorization requirements; Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions related to Marketplace health plans and essential health benefits; quality reporting under the Medicare merit-based incentive payment system; extended coverage of Medicare telehealth services through 2024; and ensuring implementation of consumer safety protections do not inadvertently prevent access to hearing aid batteries.
Did you know? ASHA maintains a list of submitted comment letters on our website.
Spotlight!
"All advocacy, big or small, at its core is a statement of hope, empathy, compassion, and action. Every voice counts and it is necessary that each of us as ASHA members make our voices heard"
—Deborah Ross Swain, EdD, CCC-SLP
ASHA’s Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy
