11/12/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/12/2024 14:39
Understanding the Impact of the 2024 Federal Elections
Last Tuesday's elections ended highly competitive races across the country. The results will have short- and long-term implications for ASHA's advocacy efforts to advance federal and state policy priorities for audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Although it will take some time to understand the full impact of the elections on our advocacy, there are some definitive takeaways that will shape the policy and political landscape in the coming months and years.
Learn more about what we know and how you can advocate for your profession now and in the future.
Also, register for our free, live webinar, Election 2024: Post-Election Policy and Political Outlook, hosted by ASHA-PAC.
Congress Must Act Following Release of Medicare Final Rule
On November 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule. As expected, CMS finalized the 2.8% cut but also clarified that audiology and speech-language pathology CPT codes will remain on the temporarily authorized telehealth services list in 2025. While this is a promising development, Congress still needs to pass legislation extending telehealth coverage of clinical specialties including audiology and speech-language pathology.
What are the next steps for ASHA members?
*Your advocacy made a difference! Following a flood of action from ASHA Advocacy and members, including a petition that gathered 4,343 signatures [PDF], CMS decided to continue telehealth coverage for audiology and speech-language pathology CPT codes into 2025. We are thrilled that CMS reversed course, but Congress still needs to act to protect your ability to provide telehealth services. That's why we're still advocating for permanent telehealth coverage!
Interstate Compact Aims to Go Live in Summer 2025
After a year of building a strong infrastructure, the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) Commission met in October to elect a new executive committee and discuss the compact's next steps. Following the meeting, ASHA anticipates the commission will begin granting compact privileges in summer 2025. Learn more about the ASLP-IC and the meeting here.
CSD Students Tell Congress to Reduce Student Debt
ASHA partnered with National NSSLHA to help communication sciences and disorders (CSD) students urge Congress to reduce student debt on Student Advocacy Day. The event highlighted how the Student Loan Interest Elimination Act (H.R. 4986/S. 2557) would make CSD degrees more accessible by allowing current federal student loan borrowers to refinance the interest rates of their existing federal student loans to 0% and establish a need-based sliding scale for future borrowers capped at 4%. The collaboration resulted in a whopping 10,581 messages being sent to Congress and two new bill cosponsors to date!
Audiologists and SLPs Navigate New Civil Rights Regulations
Did you know the U.S. Office for Civil Rights (OCR) updated some key health care-related civil rights regulations? OCR reformed Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to expand nondiscrimination protections for multiple groups-including people who use languages other than English, the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with disabilities. You can learn more while watching this recording of a live webinar cohosted by ASHA and OCR.
ASHA Is Working for You
Interested in seeing other comment letters ASHA has submitted? Visit our website.
Spotlight!
ASHA's Chief Staff Officer for Speech-Language Pathology, Monica Sampson, PhD, CCC-SLP, recently met with U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) to emphasize ASHA's impact in his congressional district and highlight the need for better coverage of, and payment for, audiology and speech-language pathology services. Rep. Raskin was re-elected to his fifth term representing Maryland's eighth congressional district (where ASHA is located).