ASHA Advocate: May 16, 2023

The Top Line

ASHA’s first in-person Capitol Hill Day in 1,526 days was a huge success with 73 ASHA members from 40 states and territories participating in 130 meetings. We were fortunate to have Members of Congress join for many of the meetings, including Senator John Fetterman who pledged to work with us to expand access to audiology and speech-language pathology services. Thanks to members of the Committee of Ambassadors and Political Action Committee for SPEAKING up, being HEARD, and making an IMPACT! You can make an impact on federal legislation during Better Hearing and Speech Month by sending prewritten messages to your members of Congress.

Bill to Protect Audiologists and SLPs from Workplace Violence

ASHA supports the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act [PDF] (H.R. 2663/S. 1176) that would require the Labor Department to issue workplace violence prevention standards to protect health care and social service workers, including audiologists and SLPs. ASHA President Bob Augustine was quoted in the sponsor’s press release on the bill, which will help ensure that the health care settings where members work have effective policies, training, and recordkeeping access in place to prevent violence and protect their health and safety. Take action now to support this bill.

Take action now to support this legislation

ASHA to Congress: Don’t Cut Safety Net Programs to Solve Debt Problems

ASHA has implored congressional leaders to reject House passed legislation, the Limit, Save, Grow Act (H.R. 2811) that would slash spending on domestic health and education programs, institute new Medicaid work requirements, and cancel the Administration’s student loan forgiveness program to reduce the federal debt. ASHA President Bob Augustine highlighted that the bill [PDF] would limit the ability of patients to access critical services members provide, harm the education of students with disabilities, and deter students from pursing audiology and speech-language pathology careers. ASHA also signed several different coalition letters opposing the legislation.

Working for You

• The Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 2474) would add an annual inflationary update to Medicare payment rates to preserve beneficiary access to care and help audiologists and SLPs keep pace with the cost of providing services. ASHA sent a letter of support to the sponsors of the new legislation. Take action now to support this bill.
• Following extensive advocacy to preserve access to facility-based telehealth services paid under the Medicare outpatient fee schedule at the end of the public health emergency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued limited guidance for hospital outpatient departments. However, none was provided for other facility settings, such as skilled nursing facilities or rehabilitation agencies. ASHA will continue to advocate for appropriate Medicare coverage of facility-based telehealth services.
• The Department of Health and Human Services is ending vaccine requirements for Head Start educators and health care facilities certified by CMS. ASHA provides a summary of what audiologists and SLPs need to know. We will provide members with more information when the agency releases updated regulations.
• Two evidence-based, clinical practice guidelines are available for member use in clinical practice and payer advocacy 1) American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Clinical Practice Guideline: Cognitive Rehabilitation for the Management of Cognitive Dysfunction Associated With Acquired Brain Injury and 2) American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Clinical Practice Guideline on Aural Rehabilitation for Adults With Hearing Loss
• Montana and Washington have adopted the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC). Vermont’s bill to adopt the ASLP-IC has passed the legislature and is being sent to the Governor for approval. Once signed, Vermont will be the 28th state to adopt the ASLP-IC

Spotlight!