ASHA Sets 2020 Advocacy Priorities Targeting Workload, Reimbursement, and More

Abstract

You have accessThe ASHA LeaderASHA News1 Mar 2020ASHA Sets 2020 Advocacy Priorities Targeting Workload, Reimbursement, and More Jeffrey P. ReganMA Jeffrey P. Regan Google Scholar More articles by this author , MA https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.AN10.25032020.65 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favorites ShareFacebookTwitterLinked In In this era of unprecedented polarization and uncertainty, it is more important than ever that lawmakers and policymakers across the country understand the value of audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Despite the political cacophony, ASHA has hit the ground running this year, building on last year’s successes and aggressively advocating on behalf of the professions in several key priority areas. ASHA’s 2020 Public Policy Agenda guides our advocacy efforts. This member-driven and member-written resource—approved by the Board of Directors—sets ASHA’s top public policy priorities in schools, health care, early intervention, and professional practice. In schools, ASHA is advancing new legislative language to promote manageable workload, reduce excessive caseload, and streamline documentation burdens for our school-based members. We are also fighting for fair and equitable wages, as well as increased access to and funding for the services we provide. In health care, ASHA continues to advance several initiatives that would protect and expand comprehensive coverage of and payment for services provided in a variety of health care settings. We are also working to ensure fair productivity and documentation standards, and that emerging health care delivery systems and new payment models include our services. It is essential to preserve licensure and certification requirements for the professions, protect the professions’ defined scopes of practice, mitigate workforce shortages, and support a robust, diverse graduate and undergraduate student population. ASHA is working to expand state adoption of the new Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact, and to advance congressional initiatives that would diversify the student population in graduate audiology and speech-language pathology programs. ASHA also recognizes a commitment to the 40 million Americans who have a communication disorder. We are working on several initiatives designed to benefit the patients, clients, and students our members serve. This diverse objective includes supporting the preservation of Medicaid eligibility and benefits, ensuring that families have objective information with which to make informed decisions about treatment and care, and promoting devices and technologies that are safe for consumers. The 2020 Public Policy Agenda recognizes the pivotal role that ASHA members play as advocates for the professions, and highlights resources for members who want to stay informed and get involved, including the 60-Second Advocacy Update, ASHA Take Action, and ASHA-PAC. Author Notes Jeffrey P. Regan, MA, is ASHA director of government affairs and public policy. [email protected] Advertising Disclaimer | Advertise With Us Advertising Disclaimer | Advertise With Us Additional Resources FiguresSourcesRelatedDetails Volume 25Issue 2March 2020 Get Permissions Add to your Mendeley library History Published in print: Feb 28, 2020 Metrics Downloaded 314 times Topicsasha-topicsleader_do_tagleader-topicsasha-article-typesCopyright & Permissions© 2020 American Speech-Language-Hearing AssociationLoading ...