Originally posted to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Headlines e-mail list on 5/10/05
May 2005 The ASHA GRPP Update is prepared as an ASHA member benefit and designed to be a brief synopsis of ASHA's Government Relations & Public Policy (GRPP) division's activities over the past month. Dissemination of this Update to other members, association newsletters, and electronic mailing lists is encouraged. Information contained in this publication may be reprinted without permission, although attribution to ASHA is requested. For more information about the Update,
please contact Michelle Mannebach at 800-498-2071, ext. 4446, or Mmannebach@asha.org.
For information regarding ASHA's advocacy activities not covered in this update, please contact: James Potter, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy, at JPotter@asha.org; Lemmietta McNeilly, Facilitating Team liaison to the GRPP Cluster, at LMcNeilly@asha.org; or Catherine Gottfred, ASHA Vice President for Governmental & Social Policies, at Gottfred@aol.com.
ACTION ALERTS
Upcoming Congressional District Work Period - Great Time to Visit Legislators at Home
From May 30 through June 3, members of Congress will be at home for their Memorial Day District Work Period. This is a great time for you to meet with your legislators in their local offices. Chances are, the legislators will be more relaxed and have more time to meet with you and your colleagues. For tips on making local district visits, go to https://www.asha.org/about/legislation-advocacy/grassroots/local_visit_10steps.htm.
Your help in needed in garnering additional support for ASHA's priority legislative issues. You can find Issue Briefs for each of these at https://www.asha.org/about/legislation-advocacy/briefsagenda/. To find out the locations and contact information for the local offices of your Representative and Senators, go to ASHA's Take Action page at https://takeaction.asha.org. Click on the 'Elected Officials' tab and type in your Zip Code. Scroll down the page to see your members of Congress and state legislators. Click on a link and you'll be shown a page that includes district office information. For more information, please contact Linda S. Lucas, Director of Grassroots Advocacy, at llucas@asha.org or by phone at 202-624-8198.
FEDERAL
ASHA Spring Capitol Hill Visits a Huge Success Adding Numerous Bill Co-Sponsors
Over 150 members of the Legislative Council, Executive Board and Political Action Committee descended upon Capitol Hill on Friday, April 1. Members successfully lobbied on ASHA's priority legislation, including: Separation of SLPs and PTs in the Outpatient Medicare Statute; Direct Access to Audiologists; Student Loan Forgiveness for SLPs; Hearing Aid Tax Credit; and Repeal of the Medicare Outpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Caps. ASHA representatives urged their members of Congress to cosponsor and support relevant bills.
Since our visits on April 1, a total of 49 cosponsors have been added to House and Senate bills (H.R. 916 and S. 438, respectively) to Repeal Medicare Outpatient Therapy Caps. Seven representatives have been added as cosponsors of H.R. 670, the Student Loan Forgiveness bill. Ten cosponsors have been added for H.R. 414, the Hearing Aid Tax Credit and another ten have been added as supporters of H.R. 415, Direct Access to Audiologists. One new Senator was added to the cosponsor list for S. 657, the SLP Medicare direct-billing legislation. For a list of all current cosponsors, please go to Thomas, the legislative web site of the Library of Congress at https://thomas.loc.gov. At the top of the page, choose 'enter bill number' and type in the appropriate bill number. Click on 'bill summary and status' and you'll see an option to view the current cosponsors for each bill. You also have the option to sort by date, so you can see who the most recent supporters are.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this important event. Your involvement has made great strides in moving ASHA's priority issues further along. For more information, please contact Linda S. Lucas, Director of Grassroots Advocacy, at llucas@asha.org or by phone at 202-624-8198.
U.S. Senate Recognizes May as Better Hearing & Speech Month, Resources Available
The United State Senate recently passed Senate Resolution 121 supporting May, 2005 as "National Better Hearing and Speech Month" and commending those states that have implemented routine hearing screenings for every newborn before leaving the hospital. ASHA would like to thank Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) for offering the resolution, as well as Senators Jim Bunning (R-KY), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) who co-sponsored the measure.
Since 1927, ASHA celebrates May as Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) in recognition of the more than 49 million Americans of all ages who have communication disorders. This yearly observance provides opportunities to raise awareness about communication disorders and to promote treatment that can improve the fundamental quality of life for those who experience problems with speaking, understanding, or hearing. Communication disorders include hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), difficulty with swallowing or balance, stuttering, delayed language, or voice problems.
ASHA has put together fun resources will help you to raise public awareness about communication disorders, including a free downloadable screensavers, colorable banners, and book marks, as well as COMMUNICATE FOR LIFE bracelets (with proceeds going to the ASHFoundation) and other promotional guides and products on ASHA's Web site at https://www.asha.org/BHSM-05.htm. For more information or questions, please contact bhsm@asha.org.
Senate Committee Approves Campaign Finance Bill
On April 27, the Senate Rules and Administration Committee approved S. 271, the 527 Reform Act of 2005. The bill seeks to require advocacy groups operating under the Internal Revenue Service code 527, which includes the Swift Boats Vets and POWs for Truth and the Media Fund, to register as political organizations. As a political organization, such groups would be restricted in their fundraising activities. Currently 527s are regulated by the Internal Revenue Service.
S. 271 would also increase the amount political action committees (PACs) can receive, contribute, and index for inflation. Currently, PACs can receive contributions up to $5,000 per calendar year; donate $5,000 per election to candidates and $15,000 per election to political parties. The bill would increase those amounts to $7,500, $7,500 and $25,000 respectively. The bill is slated to go to the Senate next month. For further information, please contact Stefanie Reeves, ASHA's Director of Political Advocacy, at sreeves@asha.org or by phone at 202-624-5961.
STATES
New Mexico Requires Doctoral Degree in Audiology, Indiana Bill Pending Signature
On April 6, Governor Bill Richardson signed New Mexico legislation (H.B. 308) that requires a doctoral degree, or equivalent, for audiology licensure, effective January 1, 2007. Then, on April 29, the last day of their 2005 regular session, the Indiana legislature passed a bill (S.B. 591) that amends several sections of its licensure law and includes the requirement for a doctoral degree in audiology as of January 1, 2007.
In New Mexico, the nature of acceptable doctoral degrees is not specified in law, but may be clarified later by licensing board regulation. Applicants must also meet the current academic, practicum and employment requirements of a nationally recognized speech-language or hearing association and pass a national examination. Applicants who hold a master's degree or equivalent in audiology or communication disorders that was awarded prior to January 1, 2007, will continue to be eligible for licensure as long as they meet the academic requirements for certification by a nationally recognized speech-language or hearing association and hold a certificate of clinical competence in audiology from a nationally recognized association. The New Mexico legislation also re-establishes licensure requirements for speech-language pathology support personnel that are scheduled to sunset on July 1, 2005.
If the Indiana bill is signed by Governor Mitch Daniels, new 2007 applicants for an audiology license must possess a doctoral degree from an accredited educational program recognized by the board, national certification in audiology approved by the board, and academic and clinical experience requirements to be determined by rules of the board. Through calendar year 2006, new applicants for licensure may have a master's degree in audiology from an accredited educational program recognized by the board rather than a doctoral degree. Other changes in Indiana licensure for both audiologists and speech-language pathologists are described below.
New Mexico joins Oklahoma as the second state to require a doctoral degree in audiology for state licensure. Bills to raise educational requirements for audiologists are still active in three other states: Alabama, Florida, and Oregon. For more information, please contact Susan Pilch, ASHA's Director of State Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy, at spilch@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4284.
Indiana Bill Extends Licensure to Schools, Expands Scope, Adds Support Personnel Categories, and Recognizes CCCs
In addition to requiring a doctoral degree in audiology, Indiana S.B. 591 (see above), if signed by the governor, would make other dramatic changes in state licensure requirements. Currently exempt from the licensure law, school speech-language pathologists and audiologists would now be required to obtain a license from the health professions bureau. Until July 1, 2007, individuals who hold a teaching license in "speech and hearing therapy," have a master's degree in speech-language pathology or a related discipline, and have been employed for at least nine months out of the past five years will be issued a license. So will holders of a life teaching license in speech-language pathology who have been employed for at least nine months out of the past five years or have taken at least 36 hours of approved continuing education during 2002 through 2006. After July 1, 2007, applicants will need to meet all requirements for the health professions bureau license.
The bill would also expand the scope of practice for both audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Vestibular function is included within the audiologist's scope, but testing of this function requires a physician's referral. Swallowing, elective modification of communication behaviors, and augmentative or alternative communication would be included in the speechlanguage pathologist's scope. A speech-language pathologist may perform endoscopy if authorized and supervised by a physician.
Categories for speech-language pathology support personnel would increase from one (aide) to three (aide, associate, assistant). The bill specifies academic degree (high school, associate degree, bachelor's degree, respectively) for each level, identifies specific supervisor qualifications, and requires the supervising speech-language pathologist to register all support personnel with the board. Other details will be defined through rulemaking of the licensing board.
The bill is also recognition that a licensed speech-language pathologist or an audiologist who works in an educational setting who hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence for at least three consecutive years is considered to have the equivalent of national teacher certification offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The individual must also have at least the same professional experience in a school setting as that required for NBPTS certification, which is currently three years. Then, the individual is entitled to all the same benefits as an NBPTS master teacher. For more information, please contact Charlie Diggs, ASHA's Director of State and Consumer Advocacy, at cdiggs@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4151.
Arkansas Mandates Health Plan Coverage for Speech, Language, Hearing Services
Arkansas health benefit plans must now include "coverage for the necessary care and treatment of loss or impairment of speech or hearing, subject to the same durational limits, dollar limits, deductibles, and coinsurance factors as other covered services ..."
This requirement took effect on April 11, when Governor Mike Huckabee signed S.B. 998, and applies to every accident and health insurer, hospital or medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization transacting accident and health insurance or providing health coverage in the state. Coverage must include all communicative disorders within the state's scope of practice for speech-language pathologists or audiologists. Hearing instruments or devices are specifically excluded from coverage requirements. For more information, please contact Charlie Diggs, ASHA's Director of State and Consumer Advocacy, at cdiggs@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4151.
Alaska EHDI Bill Moves Forward
On April 21, the Alaska House passed a bill (H.B. 109) that would charge its Department of Health and Social Services with developing a hearing screening, tracking, and intervention program for the state's infants and newborns. Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the goal is hearing screening for 100% of newborns and infants by January 1, 2008.
The Department would be given authority to establish appropriate protocols for the program, including professional qualifications for conducting screening, with annual reporting to the legislature on success of the program. As of January 1, 2006, health benefits plans issued in the state must cover both infant hearing screening and confirmatory diagnostic evaluation.
The Alaska bill has benefited from the experience of the 38 states, plus the District of Columbia, that already have Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) laws. To view summaries of each state law and a link to the laws themselves visit ASHA's web site at https://www.asha.org/about/legislation-advocacy/state/issues/overview.htm. In recognition that only about ½ of infants who fail initial hearing screening and receive a follow-up evaluation, the Alaska bill requires reporting of initial screening results by a physician or hospital as well as reporting of the audiological confirmatory evaluation. Details of reporting will be established by regulation.
Before taking effect, this bill must still pass the Alaska Senate and be signed by the Governor. For more information, please contact Charlie Diggs, ASHA's Director of State and Consumer Advocacy, at cdiggs@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4151.
Speech, Language, Hearing Actions in Other States
States legislatures ending this year's session or approaching the end are leaving behind new laws with impact on audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Among these states are:
Kansas - now exempts repair of hearing aids from state sales tax (H.B. 2040, enacted 4/4/05).
Maryland - when a hearing aid is returned during the 30-day trial period, allows dispensers to retain fees for diagnostic tests if they are billed separately and not subject these fees to the maximum amount (20% of purchase price) that may be retained (S.B. 576, eligible for governor's desk 4/9/05 but still needs signature).
Maryland - amended its teacher education tuition grant program for areas of critical shortage to include speech-language pathology and audiology; upper level bachelor's and master's degree students are eligible as of October 1, 2005 retained (H.B. 1235, eligible for governor's desk 4/9/05 but still needs signature).
Montana - revised its licensure law to allow the licensing board to determine the specific scopes of practice for audiology and for speech-language pathology and to determine the specific "academic, supervised practicum, and post classroom employment requirements" for licensure as long as they are equal to or greater than the standard generally accepted as the national norm (S.B. 451, signed by the governor 4/15/05).
For more information, please contact Susan Pilch, ASHA's Director of State Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy, at spilch@asha.orgor by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4284.
SCHOOLS
Simon Nominated to be ED Deputy Secretary
President Bush nominated Raymond Simon to be the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education on April 15th. Since December 2003, Simon has served as assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education. In that position, he is a principal adviser to the Secretary on all matters related to elementary and secondary education. If confirmed, as expected by the U.S. Senate, Mr. Simon would replace Eugene W. Hickok, who had been the Department's deputy secretary for about a year and a half before his resignation last December.
Prior to joining the U. S. Department of Education (ED), Simon was director of the Arkansas Department of Education. He also served as assistant superintendent for finance and superintendent of Conway Public Schools in Arkansas. He began his career as a high school mathematics teacher in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Simon earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Central Arkansas and an educational specialist degree from the University of Arkansas. For more information please visit ED's Web site at https://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2005/04/04152005a.html, or contact Catherine D. Clarke, ASHA's Director of Education and Regulatory Advocacy, via email at cclarke@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4159.
ED Announces List of Early Reading First Grant Applicants
The U.S Department of Education (ED) has announced the list of invited full applicants for the FY 2005 Early Reading First grant competition. The list can be found on ED's Web site at https://www.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/applicant.html#invitees. All pre-applicants will receive written notification, including their reviewer scores and comments.
ED used a two-phase system to select recipients for the Early Reading First grant competition which included a pre-application and a full application. All applicants submitted a pre-application that briefly addressed certain key concepts. Applicants invited to submit full applications will respond to more specific selection criteria.
Funds appropriated for the FY 2005 competition are $104,160,000 to support local efforts for enhancing the oral language, cognitive, and early reading skills of preschool-age children, especially those from low-income families, through strategies, materials, and professional development that are grounded in scientifically based reading research. This is an increase from the FY 2004 appropriated amount of $94.4 million.
The Early Reading First program is a competitive grant initiative that will enhance reading readiness for preschool children in high poverty areas and where there are high numbers of students who are not reading at grade level. For more information, including grant applications, visit ED's Web site at https://www.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/applicant.html, or contact Catherine D. Clarke, ASHA's Director of Education and Regulatory Advocacy, via email at cclarke@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4159.
OSERS Develops Resource Documents on IDEA 2004
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education has developed a series of brief documents that covers a variety of high-interest topics from the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA '04). The documents bring together the statutory language related to those topics to support constituents in preparing to implement the new IDEA requirements.
These documents are available by going to the IDEA Information Center on ASHA's Web site at https://www.asha.org/about/legislation-advocacy/federal/idea/ and scrolling down to "Other Resources." For further information, please contact Catherine D. Clarke, ASHA's Director of Education and Regulatory Advocacy, via email at cclarke@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4159.
Reprinted by permission of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
