ASHA Advocacy

01/03/2025

is on Capitol Hill for the opening of the to reconnect with and champions + meet new members whose support we’ll seek. Welcome the new Congress by telling your representatives what you do and how it helps - https://ashaa.quorum.us/campaign/119CongressWelcome/

11/20/2024

Our federal and political affairs team spent the day discussing the policy and political implications of the 2024 elections and planning short and long-term advocacy efforts. Read our post-election analysis and learn how you can advocate TODAY - https://on.asha.org/3O4040f

11/15/2024

ASHA staffers attended the National Health Council's Washington Representatives Retreat to discuss post-election health policy landscape and build connections w/ orgs w/ similar policy goals. Topic areas included Medicaid, telehealth, AI, prior authorization and much more!

11/01/2024

CMS has released the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule. ASHA Advocacy is carefully analyzing it and will provide a summary next week. At first glance, it appears audiology and speech-language pathology codes will remain on the Medicare Telehealth Services list but Congressional action is still needed to extend coverage of audiologists and SLPs. Unfortunately, CMS maintains a 2.8% budget neutrality reduction so you should contact your Members of Congress now to avoid these cuts - https://on.asha.org/41Kv8Z1

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized a 2.8% cut to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Conversion Factor (CF) for 2025, which impacts payment rates for all physician and nonphysician services reimbursed under...

11/01/2024

Earlier this week, Dr. Elise Davis-McFarland, 2019 ASHA President, and Doanne Ward-Williams, ASHA's Senior Director, State Affairs, participated in the Early Childhood Intervention Personnel Center for Equity Partners meeting. The meeting was focused on early intervention/ early childhood special education materials, resources, and tools to enhance curriculum modules, briefs and case studies, and cross disciplinary materials.
The meeting brought together folks from American Occupational Therapy Association, American Physical Therapy Association, the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, the Council of Exceptional Children, the Division of Early Childhood, IDEA Infant & Toddler Coordinators Association, and other organizations committed to early intervention and early childhood special education.

10/03/2024

Advocacy win! Following a wave of advocacy outreach from ASHA, the Connecticut Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and providers, Anthem CT has announced that they will not move forward with a deeply concerning shift to a capped payment structure with $80 maximum daily per diem for speech-language pathology services.

Thank you to all advocates who fought alongside us — our voices were heard and made a difference! Read more in our updated news piece: https://at.asha.org/r6

10/01/2024

Advocacy win! We’re excited to share that as a result of ASHA and MSHA - Michigan Speech Language Hearing Association advocacy, the Michigan legislature has appropriated a $5.5 million increase for Medicaid SLP codes in 2025, resulting in a 23% rate increase across all codes for which we requested increases. The payment increase will apply to services provided in private practices, nursing facilities, or outpatient facility settings. Learn more: https://at.asha.org/qS

We sincerely appreciate MDHHS’ collaboration on this much needed provider payment increase, and we look forward to continuing to work with them through implementation. If you have any questions or want to learn more about how you can get involved in Medicaid advocacy, please email [email protected].

09/13/2024

🥳🥳🥳

🎉 𝐌𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐀 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 & 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡-𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 (𝐀𝐒𝐋𝐏-𝐈𝐂)! 🎉

After years of dedicated lobbying and advocacy by MNSHA, we’re excited to announce that Minnesota has officially passed the ASLP-IC!

This milestone wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of our members. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐲𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬, helping us advocate for legislation like this! Please join MNSHA or new by October 1st to continue funding our advocacy efforts: https://mnsha.org/members/

The ASLP-IC allows licensed speech-language pathologists and audiologists licensed in other compact states to obtain a privilege to practice in Minnesota and practice face-to-face or through telehealth across state lines without having to become fully licensed in additional compact states. A privilege to practice is equivalent to a license and requires practitioners to meet minimum standards of practice required in the state they are seeking to practice. It also adds feeding and swallowing, as well as fluency, to the list of areas covered by the SLP.

🔗 Learn more about this exciting development in the official press release!

View the compact map here: https://aslpcompact.com/compact-map/

09/13/2024

It was great having members of ASHA's Health Care Economics Committee on the Hill today urging Congress to stop Medicare payment cuts and make audiologists and SLPs permanent Medicare telehealth providers. Join our call by taking action now- https://www.votervoice.net/ASHAaction/Campaigns/90403/Respond

09/10/2024

09/05/2024

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) extends heartfelt condolences to the Apalachee High School community in the wake of the tragic shooting that occurred yesterday. In moments like these, words feel inadequate. During this incredibly difficult time, ASHA stands in solidarity with the victims and their families, Apalachee school staff, and the entire town of Winder, Georgia. We have contacted our colleagues and friends at the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association to offer assistance and are working to identify any members who have been affected by this tragedy. Visit https://at.asha.org/oE to read ASHA's full statement and for list of resources we’ve compiled for members.