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Catherine Palmer, Academy President photo

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE | Real Change for Our Profession

On Friday, March 20, 2020, the entire group of audiologists I work with at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) was taking care of patients in person. Three days later, Monday, March 23, 2020, we were providing all of our services remotely. 

We had been thinking about expanding into telehealth over the past year, but we had all sorts of reasons why it wouldn’t, couldn’t, and shouldn’t work. And then one day, it had to work or we wouldn’t have been able to take care of our patients. 

Topic(s): President's Message, audiology, Telehealth, tele-audiology, teleaudiology, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), CARES Act, Medicare, cochlear implant codes, Cochlear Implants (CI)

Author(s): 
Catherine V. Palmer

Publication Issue: Audiology Today July/August 2020

Encourage Your Legislator to Support Inclusion of Medicare Audiology Provisions in Future COVID-19 Legislation

Congress is now working on crafting another COVID-19 relief package to follow up on the CARES Act passed last week.

The CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Begins Disbursements

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began distributing the initial $30 billion in COVID-19 relief funding to providers as part of the distribution of the $100 billion fund provided as part of the CARES Act. This initial distribution of funds will go to hospitals and providers currently enrolled in Medicare and take effect immediately

Treasury Department Releases Application Form and Fact Sheet for Forgivable Small Businesses Loans

The newly enacted Paycheck Protection Program included in the most recent COVID-19 relief package authorizes $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to cover payroll, rent/mortgage and utilities.

President Signs “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” that Includes Small Business Assistance (CARES)

The recently enacted “CARES” Act includes the “Paycheck Protection Program” (PPP) for small businesses. The PPP is designed to provide short-term cash flow assistance to small businesses to help these businesses and their employees deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. 

COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 Week in Review

See a recap of this week's news and resources. A new Academy update will be posted each Friday.

COVID-19 News and Resources

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources: Vaccine Access/Eligibility, Side Effects, and Cost

This vaccination effort faces unprecedented challenges in terms of the order of magnitude, the complexity of the vaccine administration, and the limited supply of the product.  Each state has devised its own vaccine distribution plan; although these plans have been described as “works in progress” and continue to be updated and refined.  The links below are intended to provide information about vaccine access, safety information and potential side effects as well as costs.

Contact your local and state health department to ascertain whether audiologists are included in the definition of “health-care worker.” 

The Academy has also learned that in many states, local departments of health are taking responsibility for vaccinating health-care providers who are not affiliated with a large health-care system or hospital.

Practice Management Resources

Telehealth Resources

Telehealth and Medicare/Medicaid

Below is a resource list with information on the provision of telehealth services. The Academy will post additional information as it comes available.

Toolkits and Resource Centers

Treatment and Management Considerations

Ototoxicity, Medications, and Supplements

Government Resources

Public Awareness and Educational Resources

Communication Access Resources 

Mental Health

Resources for Students