ASHA Advocate: May 2, 2024
May 2, 2024
The Top Line
Happy National Speech-Language-Hearing Month (NSLHM)! While you raise awareness about communication disorders and the role you play in providing life-altering treatment, you can also MAKE AN IMPACT by shaping policies that impact your profession. During the month of May, we’re calling on all ASHA members to advocate for the issues that matter most to you and the people you serve. There are plenty of different ways to be an advocate, from virtual advocacy to meeting with your representatives to getting involved with your state speech-language-hearing association. Learn more about the opportunities and resources available to you.
State Legislative and Regulatory Updates
State legislation and regulations have an enormous impact on audiologists, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and audiology and speech-language pathology assistants. ASHA’s state affairs team reviews thousands of bills and regulations every year to determine their impact on the professions and coordinate efforts to advocate for you and the people you serve. Read about some major state updates that have happened so far in 2024.
Congress Recognizes Educational Audiologists and School-Based SLPs
Representatives Jahana Hayes (D-CT) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced a resolution designating Monday, April 29 through Friday, May 3, 2024 as “National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week.” The bipartisan recognition notes that qualified school-based professionals, including audiologists and SLPs, provide “prevention and early intervention services to reduce barriers to learning,” like improving student communication. ASHA is a member of the National Alliance of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (NASISP), whose members provide and support school-based prevention and intervention services to improve student achievement and success. ASHA also participated in NASISP's live chat on X. Check #SISPWeek2024 to learn more.
Bill Introduced to Make Audiologists and SLPs Permanent Medicare Telehealth Providers
Several top leaders on the House Ways and Means Committee’s subcommittee on Health, including Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA), who co-chairs the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus, have introduced bipartisan legislation to enable audiologists and SLPs to remain as Medicare telehealth providers permanently. The bill (H.R. 8151) is one of several bills being considered that would ensure members of your professions can continue providing telehealth services to seniors beyond December 31, 2024. Take action now to support one of those bills, the Expanded Telehealth Access Act (H.R. 3875/S. 2880).”
FTC Votes to Ban Non-Compete Clauses Nationwide
The FTC recently voted to ban non-compete clauses nationwide. This impacts the vast majority of workers, with the exception of senior executives in policymaking positions who have existing non-competes. Non-competes will be banned for most workers 120 days after the rule is published in the federal register. ASHA is reviewing the ruling and will provide members with more information next week. In the meantime, check out ASHA’s current non-compete resources, which we will be updating soon.
Working for You
- Advocacy win! ASHA commented in support of California’s proposed regulations [PDF] in 2023 addressing speech-language pathology assistant supervision and telepractice. Some of ASHA’s recommendations will be effective this July, including increased supervision flexibilities through synchronous audiovisual.
- ASHA signed a letter to chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees circulated by the IDEA Full Funding Coalition asking that the committee fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act at the administration’s requested level and hold other education programs harmless from funding cuts.
- Advocacy win! Thanks to advocacy efforts by ASHA and the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Georgia Medicaid has added the Caregiver Training codes to its fee schedule. Learn more about the new codes on ASHA’s website.
- ASHA submitted a statement for the record to the 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. The act would provide funding to increase educational opportunities in audiology and speech-language pathology for students underrepresented in the professions.
Spotlight
ASHA recently participated in a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill hosted by the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities to celebrate Assistive Technology Awareness Day and to urge Congress to properly fund critical assistive technology programs. Congressional briefings are a helpful way to educate congressional staff members, the media, and the policymaking community.
Key senators introduced a resolution designating April 17 as AT Awareness Day, while ASHA member Joan Green, M.A., CCC-SLP, and ASHA staff helped congressional staff understand why assistive technology is so important [PDF] and how it empowers people with disabilities and older adults. ASHA also signed a congressional letter asking for the inclusion of $60 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 Health and Human Services funding bill to increase capacity of assistive technology programs.
