ASHA Advocate: February 24, 2025
February 24, 2025
ASHA Analysis of Executive Orders
ASHA has reviewed the initial executive orders signed by the new Administration that are most likely to impact you and your work in health and education. As of today, we have compiled summaries of 22 executive orders and shared the potential impact of each.
ASHA is closely monitoring and tracking issues most relevant to the professions and communicating with congressional partners and other key stakeholders. We will provide updates on current and new executive orders as well as any relevant legislation, regulations, or actions. Although it will take some time to understand the full impact of current and future executive orders, we remain firmly committed to advancing ASHA’s advocacy priorities, many of which support advocacy on issues directly impacted by the executive orders.
In the past month, over 5,600 ASHA advocates have written almost 36,000 letters to their representatives advocating for issues that impact the professions and the people you serve. Thank you, advocates! You can join us in taking action now to help influence the outcome of timely issues like protecting access to care under Medicaid, preserving the primary role of the U.S. Department of Education, and stopping Medicare payment cuts.
Explore Potential Medicaid Funding Changes Ahead
Join ASHA Advocacy on March 4, 2025, from 7 to 8 p.m. (ET), for our free live webinar: Potential Medicaid Funding Changes Ahead: What Audiologists and SLPs Need to Know. Learn about Medicaid advocacy in the current political climate by getting a quick refresher on what Medicaid is, what ASHA is doing to help protect it, and how you can get involved. Webinar participants can receive one professional development hour. Sign up today.
Take Action Against a Lawsuit That Threatens Disability Rights
A lawsuit filed by 17 states against the U.S. government argues that Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is unconstitutional based on updated regulations from 2024. ASHA is very concerned about the lawsuit’s potential impact on people with disabilities across all health care and educational settings. The 17 state attorneys general and the Department of Justice will submit briefs by February 25, then a court will review them and make a ruling on whether the lawsuit will continue. Take Action today by sharing your concerns with your state attorney general!
Legislation to Support Professional Advancement Reintroduced
ASHA-supported legislation, the Freedom To Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (H.R. 1151)—which would expand qualified expenses under 529 savings plans to include postsecondary training and credentialing, such as licenses and professional certifications—has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives. The bill would provide valuable tax-advantaged resources to audiologists and SLPs pursuing career growth, mid-career changes, or alternative career pathways. ASHA is a member of the Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition, whose mission is to advocate for beneficial workforce development policies. Take action now to support this bill!
Join ASHA and NSSLHA for Student Advocacy Day
Join ASHA and the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) on March 6, 2025, for a virtual Student Advocacy Day! We’re coming together to ask Congress to protect vital programs and support policies that ensure college remains affordable for current and future students. Take action to support CSD students!
Massachusetts Advocacy Win
Advocacy win! As of February 14, Massachusetts has begun accepting provisional licensure applications. ASHA is proud to have supported the steadfast advocacy efforts of the Massachusetts Speech-Language Hearing Association over the past several years to make this happen! Are you going to be a CF in Massachusetts? Learn more here.
Working for You
- ASHA signed a letter to congressional leaders urging passage of the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stablization Act (H.R. 879), which would completely eliminate the Medicare Part B payment cut in 2025 and provide a payment increase to offset practice costs.
- ASHA staff participated in meetings of the Modern Medicaid Alliance, which released a statement urging Congress to follow through on President Trump’s promise to protect Medicaid.
- ASHA Advocacy staff met with several new members of Congress—including U.S. Representatives Tom Barrett (R-MI), Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), Michael Rulli (R-OH), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN), and Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA)—to introduce ASHA and share the advocacy priorities of audiologists and SLPs.
- ASHA staff attended a congressional briefing on the impact of Medicaid work requirements on older adults and individuals with disabilities.
- ASHA staff participated in seven ASHA-PAC-supported fundraisers.
- ASHA staff tracked and gathered data on recent billing challenges with both TRICARE West and TRICARE East.
- ASHA staff presented to the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD) on how audiologists and SLPs get paid. Recordings of these sessions will be available on the CAPCSD website.
- Staff wrote a comment letter supporting the regulation of speech-language pathology assistants in New Mexico.
- Staff submitted a comment letter in Maryland [PDF] supporting legislation authorizing school systems to utilize funds for audiologists and SLPs to address recruitment and retention and offer provider stipends.
- Staff presented on the training, trends, and regulation of speech-language pathology assistants at the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention.
- The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) Commission issued its first newsletter [PDF], which includes legislative updates from ASHA staff.
- Staff attended legislative hearings on the ASLP-IC bills in Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon.
- Staff submitted a comment letter opposing budget cuts to the Maryland Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists & Music Therapists.
- Staff attended the National Hearing Conservation Association Annual Conference to present on policy issues and trends in interstate practice by audiologists, including ongoing changes to state telepractice laws and the implementation of the ASLP-IC.
- Kentucky Advocacy Win: The Kentucky Department for Public Health approved increased reimbursement rates for providers in the Kentucky Early Intervention System effective February 6, 2025. ASHA, the Kentucky Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and the Kentucky Early Intervention Providers Association all collaborated to advocate for this issue.
Spotlight!
ASHA volunteer leaders and staff attended the American Medical Association’s CPT Editorial Panel meeting related to CPT code development to ensure audiology and speech-language pathology services are strongly represented. This process is vital to ensure CPT codes accurately describe the services ASHA members provide and reflect their professional skills and knowledge. Learn more at How a CPT Code Becomes a Code [PDF].
