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Advocacy

Academy Collaborates with Other Allied Health-Care Associations to Mitigate Coronavirus Impact on Members and Patients

The Academy is working with other allied health professional associations to identify actionable strategies to mitigate the coronavirus situation impact on members. Across the board, allied health professional associations are sharing concerns about the impact the current situation may have on small business healthcare providers as well as potential shortages of protective equipment such as masks and sanitizing products.

Three States Pass Legislation to Proceed with Interstate Licensure Compact for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology

As of March 13, state legislatures in West Virginia, Utah and Wyoming have passed legislation to implement the ASLP-IC, a state licensure compact for audiology and speech-language pathology.

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AUDIOLOGY ADVOCATE | New Advocacy Opportunities for the New Year

2019 was a busy year in the area of advocacy—and 2020 shows no sign of slowing down. 

Topic(s): Advocacy, Legislation

Author(s): 
Susan Pilch

Publication Issue: Audiology Today March/April 2020

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OPINION EDITORIAL | Otolaryngology and Audiology in a Direct-Access Future

The American Academy of Audiology (the Academy), the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA), and the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) are together seeking changes in Medicare rules. The changes proposed will allow Medicare patients direct access to audiology services without a referral from a physician and would reclassify audiologists as practitioners. Classification as practitioners would allow audiologists to be recognized by Medicare (i.e., reimbursed by Medicare) for the full scope of their state-defined licensure law.

Topic(s): Advocacy, direct access

Author(s): 
Christopher Spankovich

Publication Issue: Audiology Today March/April 2020

Academy Advocacy in Action

The Academy’s advocacy efforts seek to educate and shape national policies regarding hearing health care issues, while raising the profile of audiologists with public policy makers. Our skilled government relations staff and consultants work diligently to represent the interests of our patients and our profession and seek effective legislative, regulatory, and other policy solutions to the challenges we face in practice. 

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The State of Affairs at AAA 2020

At AAA 2020 + HearTECH Expo, we are offering a reinvented state event, State Showcase, replacing the State Fair event of previous conferences. This new event features an educational component, recognition of state audiology organization activities, state recognitions, and a state outreach contest.

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President’s Message: Strategic Documents, Advocacy Update, and HearTECH Expo—February 2020

President’s Message: Strategic Documents, Advocacy Update, and HearTECH Expo—February 2020

Message from Catherine Palmer, PhD | February 2020

Academy Publishes Two New Strategic Documents

At the January 23, 2020, board meeting, the board approved two strategic documents contributing to our overall audiology body of knowledge. These are now published on the Academy website here and will be published in Audiology Today and the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology (JAAA) in various formats in the near future.

Advocacy in Review and Legislative Updates

  • Building on the Academy President’s videos, the Advocacy Year in Review is available to highlight activities over the last year.
  • Academy Senior Director of Government Relations Susan Pilch also did a webinar that offers the prospectus for this year ahead. The archive version of the webinar is available at no charge.
  • The Government Relations Committee (GRC) and staff also have planned a highly valuable and interactive session in the Future Hub. Come to the Thursday 1:30 session in the Future Hub to engage in communication exercises to hone skills and messaging for successful advocacy.
  • Legislation is being introduced in numerous states to adopt the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. The Academy is helping efforts to counter opposition to the licensure compact, and do not hesitate to reach out to Academy staff if assistance is needed in your state.

AAA 2020 + HearTECH Expo in New Orleans

  • Check out the presentations, learning, and interactive fun in the HearTECH Expo…specifically, the Future Hub schedule and plan to attend these thought-provoking and informative sessions relevant to audiology practice today and in the future.
  • Special Accommodations: The Academy is committed to providing the utmost service to our conference attendees, while working closely with the New Orleans Convention Center and all of our vendors, to provide reasonable services to accommodate our attendees while in attendance at AAA 2020 + HearTECH Expo. This year, we have added complimentary options for auditory accommodations that will help make the most of your conference experience. 

Academy Weighs In on Eliminating Medicare Regulations that Exceed State Scope of Practice Laws and Limit Non-Physician Providers from Practicing at the Top of Their License

The Academy submitted comments in response to a Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) request for information on identifying burdensome Medicare regulations that exceed state scope of practice laws and limit non-physician providers from practicing at the top of their license.

Federal Legislation Introduced to Expand Individuals’ Use of “529” Education Savings Accounts

Federal legislation introduced to expand individuals’ use of “529” education savings accounts to cover the costs of professional certification and credentialing programs.

Academy Takes Part in the World Hearing Forum

Jackie Clark, PhD, past president of the American Academy of Audiology represents the Academy as a member of the World Hearing Forum.

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