ASHA Issue Briefs & Public Policy Agenda
Issue Briefs
Medicare Outpatient Therapy Caps
Please co-sponsor S. 46 or H.R. 43, as introduced by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) and Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), respectively. This legislation would repeal the annual cap on therapy services under Part B of Medicare. See the full issue brief on therapy caps [PDF].
Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit
Please co-sponsor H.R. 1646 and S. 1019, the Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act. This legislation would provide a tax credit of up to $500 per hearing aid, once every five years, for parents purchasing a hearing aid for a dependent child or persons over 55. The House version also includes a $200,000 annual eligibility income cap. See the full issue brief on hearing aid tax credit [PDF].
Allow Seniors Access to Hearing Health Services Provided by Audiologists
Support the introduction of legislation that will allow Medicare beneficiaries access to audiologic evaluation and treatment services provided by an audiologist. See the full issue brief on allowing seniors access to audiologists [PDF].
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention
Please request the Senate Health Education Labor and Pension Committee to introduce and pass legislation that would reauthorize the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program (EHDI). The House passed its version of the bill, H.R. 1246 in 2009. This legislation would reauthorize the federal portion of this important and highly successful initiative for the next five years. The EHDI Act would place greater emphasis on diagnosis, treatment, and family support services for children with hearing loss. See the full issue brief on EHDI [PDF].
Language is the Basis of Literacy
Please include speech-language pathologists as recognized providers of service under any new federal comprehensive literacy legislation. The Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation (LEARN) Act, H.R. 4037 and S. 2740, was introduced by Congressman John Yarmuth (D-KY) in the House and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) in the Senate. This legislation has been identified as the starting point for literacy provisions related to the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, however, it does not reflect the integral role that speech-language pathologists play in improving language and literacy skills in children. See the full issue brief on literacy [PDF].
Medicare Telehealth Coverage Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Services
Please co-sponsor H.R. 2068, the Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2009, introduced by Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Bart Stupak (D-MI), Lee Terry (R-NE), and Sam Johnson (R-TX). The bill would include audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) among the covered professions for Medicare telehealth services, expand Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services, and allow for the monitoring of patients remotely. Telehealth (a.k.a. telemedicine, telepractice, telespeech, teleaudiology) is an appropriate model of service delivery for the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology. See the full issue brief on telehealth [PDF].
ASHA's Public Policy Agenda