Congress Must Act to Protect Medicare Telehealth Services for Audiologists and SLPs

Time is running out to ensure Medicare Part B beneficiaries can continue to receive audiology and speech-language pathology services through telehealth. Current statutory authority for audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to bill Medicare Part B for telehealth services—extended earlier this year under H.R. 1968—will expire on September 30, 2025, unless Congress takes further action.

Take Action for Telehealth

What’s at Stake?

Since 2020, Congress has granted access to traditional Medicare beneficiaries for critical audiology and speech-language pathology services via telehealth. This access has proven invaluable, particularly for patients in rural and underserved areas and those who face significant barriers to in-person care. However, unless Congress passes new legislation, this progress will be rolled back after September 30, 2025, leaving patients without the necessary coverage for these vital services.

What Is ASHA Doing?

ASHA is working closely with members of Congress to secure a permanent solution to ongoing uncertainty in federal telehealth policy. ASHA advocates have sent over 10,000 messages to their congressional representatives in support of H.R. 1614, bipartisan legislation that would permanently authorize audiologists and SLPs to deliver and bill for telehealth services under Medicare Part B.

ASHA staff and volunteer leaders have been meeting with legislators in both the House and Senate to highlight the success of expanded telehealth access for audiology and speech-language pathology services, including fiscal savings that benefit both patients and the broader health care system.

After years of executive branch advocacy by ASHA and many of its volunteer leaders, the Department of Health and Human Services has proposed to make audiology and speech-language pathology telehealth codes permanent. Once the critical policy change is finalized, Congress must do its part to ensure long-term access to telehealth services under Medicare Part B. That’s because only Congress can authorize audiologists and SLPs to furnish these services by adding them to the statutorily-approved list of telehealth providers.

Why It Matters

Telehealth improves access to care for people with hearing, balance, speech, language, swallowing, and cognitive conditions. Research shows comparable clinical outcomes for telehealth and in-person services, and patients report significant savings in travel costs and time off work. Furthermore, data from the Office of the Inspector General shows a low risk of fraud for telehealth claims (0.2%), easing initial concerns from policymakers regarding the potential for fraud, waste, and abuse in telehealth.

What Can Advocates Do?

Contact your members of Congress today urging them to extend telehealth authority for audiologists and SLPs beyond the current deadline of September 30, 2025, and asking them to support H.R. 1614, which would provide certainty for clinicians and the Medicare Part B beneficiaries they serve. Even if you’ve already sent a letter this year, this is the time to remind your Members of Congress that this issue is important to you and the patients you serve.

Questions?

• Learn more about providing audiology and speech-language pathology telehealth services under Medicare.
• For questions about Medicare policy and payment, contact ASHA’s health care and education policy team at reimbursement@asha.org. 
• For questions about the federal legislative process and how you can take action, contact the federal and political affairs team at federal@asha.org.