The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

The American Relief Act, a short-term federal spending bill to prevent a shut down, has been signed into law. This bill contains an extension for audiologists, SLPs, and several other specialties to continue providing telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries through March 31, 2025. It also contains a provision waiving the 4% across-the-board PAYGO cut scheduled to take effect January 1. Unfortunately, Congress failed to address the 2.8% Medicare Part B payment cut that advocates, including ASHA, have been seeking relief from. This means many providers will face an approximate 4.8% cut in Medicare Part B payments next year unless the incoming 119th Congress takes action. While an initial package included a more robust solution to address ASHA’s advocacy priorities, including a 2-year extension of telehealth coverage and a 2.5% Medicare payment increase, it did not have the support of the incoming Administration and was scrapped. ASHA Advocacy will keep advocating for audiologists and SLPs to permanently provide telehealth services and for relief from Medicare cuts. We are grateful to each and every member who took action to support our advocacy efforts. We will continue to fight for you! Read more about what’s next: https://at.asha.org/vK

Advocacy win! Congress has passed the Social Security Fairness Act to repeal WEP GPO that unfairly reduces Social Security benefits of more than 2.5 million Americans—including audiologists and SLPs—who worked in certain public sector jobs, like in schools or for state governments. We expect President Biden to sign this into law soon. This impressive bipartisan accomplishment was thanks in part to your advocacy. Thank you to the thousands of advocates who joined us in taking action for the Social Security Fairness Act! Learn more about this bill: https://lnkd.in/e2zU3r3M

Shopping for a last-minute gift for a little one? Basic toys and even household items can keep young children entertained while also encouraging their communication skills. Share these ideas with caregivers your life — and find more recommendations from ASHA members: https://at.asha.org/vE

SLP grad student Nicole shares why being yourself means being an even better practitioner. To watch the full story and see more, visit https://lnkd.in/gjV8Vrbk. #WeAreASHA

A medical student, assistant professor, and a Deaf family medicine physician, clinical researcher, and professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School collaborated on this ASHA Leader article about building hearing accommodations into patient medical records. https://lnkd.in/gATYYKny

Earlier this year, we celebrated Vermont passing legislation to remove prior authorization requirements from certain commercial insurance plans. Now, Vermont Medicaid is following suit…and then some! Following advocacy from ASHA and the Vermont Speech-Language-Hearing Association (VSHA), Vermont Medicaid has announced they are: - removing prior authorization requirements from all medically necessary speech-language pathology services for children under age 21 - removing the requirement for physician referral for speech therapy services, and - increasing the number of permissible visits for adults who need speech therapy services. Vermont Medicaid is setting a great example for states to remove burdensome obstacles to care. We look forward to our continued collaboration with and support for VSHA in 2025 as we tackle increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates. You can read our recent comment letter to Vermont Medicaid: https://at.asha.org/vA

In May, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), published a large observational study comparing outcomes of two groups of hospitalized patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias—those receiving thickened liquids and those receiving thin liquids. The study's results are opening dialogues between SLPs and other members of the care team. We interviewed Nicole Rogus-Pulia, PhD, CCC-SLP, one of the JAMA article’s co-authors, to get her insights on the paper’s findings. https://lnkd.in/eD9VkaS3

Investing in your health is investing in your future – and that applies to your hearing health! An audiologist will get to know your needs and lifestyle to offer treatment options that will fit your budget and goals. Learn more (https://at.asha.org/vy) and find a certified audiologist (https://at.asha.org/vx)

Must love dogs...and speech-language pathology! Check out our brand new guidebook on animal-assisted intervention, and through the end of the year, save 20% when you purchase through the ASHA Store! https://lnkd.in/egk9d7P7

"Despite the importance of communication, barriers often prevent people with dementia from expressing themselves, preventing them from fully participating in their health care and social lives. And we see in our work that one of the most significant barriers tends to be lack of collaboration among SLPs, CNAs, nurses, occupational therapists, and physical therapists in skilled nursing communities." - SLPs Stephanie Richings and Natalie Douglas Read more in this ASHA Leader article at https://at.asha.org/vt