ASHA Advocate: May 24, 2024

Volunteer members from the Board of Directors, Committee of Ambassadors, and ASHA-PAC Board gathered for ASHA’s annual Capitol Hill Day on May 8. These members represented 41 states and territories and participated in more than 130 congressional meetings to advocate for audiologists, SLPs, assistants, and the people they serve. Highlights from the day included introduction of a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month (NSLHM); presentation of the ASHA Public Service Award to Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA); and an opportunity for members to attend the House Ways and Means Committee markup where the Committee approved legislation providing a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth services. Help keep up the momentum by taking action for your profession and make an impact during NSLHM!

Randomly selected audiologists and SLPs in private and group practices will receive an email invitation from Mathematica, a survey administrator, to participate in the clinician practice information (CPI) survey. This effort will collect updated and accurate data on practice costs, which are a key element of clinician payment. This information has not been updated in over 15 years! Real-world input is critical to collect current data to ensure accurate payment for your services. Visit ASHA's website for more information.

• Advocacy win! Alaska and Minnesota have passed legislation to allow their states to join the ASLP-IC. They are each pending their respective governor's signature now.
• Advocacy win! Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Federal Employee Program has updated their coverage policies to better specify medical necessity criteria for hearing loss below 40 decibels (dB).
• Advocacy win! Vermont passed H.766 to keep prior authorization in check and establish timeline guardrails. ASHA and VSHA worked together [PDF] to advocate for this legislation.
• Advocacy win! The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued final rules on Medicare Advantage plans and prior authorization and interoperability, which reflect provisions supported by ASHA.
• CMS issued an inpatient acute and long-term care hospital proposed rule for 2025 containing a payment rate increase, adding new items and health codes related to social determinants of health, and increasing several measures within the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program.
• Met with CMS staff to discuss the policy to leave the decision of returning school-based Medicaid funds to state Medicaid programs and the challenges that creates for ASHA members.
• Attended American Medical Association meetings related to CPT code development and valuation to ensure audiology and speech-language pathology representation.
• Sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in support of the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act (S. 4120) for the Committee’s hearing on shortages of minority health care professionals.
• Signed a letter to leaders of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging robust funding [PDF] for the federal programs that support infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities, their families, and the educators and other providers who serve them.
• Submitted formal correspondence to several health plans requesting clarification on their policies around F codes in chapter 5 of ICD-10-CM.
• Responded to a request for information issued by the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Trade Commission regarding consolidation in health care markets [PDF].

Interested in seeing other comment letters ASHA has submitted? Visit our website.

Thank you to the Council of State Speech Language Hearing Association Presidents (CSAP) for inviting ASHA to present and attend the CSAP Spring Conference in Indianapolis, IN last weekend. The collaboration between CSAP and ASHA continues to focus on supporting state association leaders.