| The North Carolina Speech, Hearing and Language Association, inc. |
NCSHLA Advocacy
Stay informed & make a difference!
Now it's time for our voices to be heard! As NC residents, the House Representatives and Senators that are elected in your community need to hear from you!
Now is your chance.
Go to https://ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators based upon your home address and the email them to welcome them to the long session and that you look forward to collaborating with them in the new year.
Stay tuned for more ways to advocate as the long session gets underway.
This is an update from Natalie Woempner, CCC-SLP and NC ASHA STAR (state advocate for reimbursement)
I would like to share the three main advocacy efforts discussed in our June meeting. PLEASE educate yourselves and spare the few minutes it takes to ADVOCATE for our speech pathology services! Links provided below.
1. THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL (that includes MEDICAID cuts)
We were told that since this bill passed the US House, it is now being addressed by the US Senate. The Senate wants to make many changes making it very unlikely that passage in both chambers will happen by the US president's deadline of July 4th so WE STILL HAVE TIME!!!! Click link below.
2. Medicare telehealth coverage was extended until September while politicians still sort out the budget and current bills. It is expected that they will again "kick the can" and extend it another 6 months when it comes up again in the fall. There is still time for you to advocate for this effort as well!
3. Tell CMS to Let Clinical Fellows Bill Medicare Part B
Sarah Warren, ASHA's Director of Health Care Policy for Medicare joined our meeting to explain this huge issue and solicit signatures for our petition.
A recent change the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual jeopardizes access to care for Medicare beneficiaries and undermines state laws designed to regulate provisional licensees such as speech-language pathology clinical fellows (CFs). It also threatens the livelihood of CFs whose employment relies on the ability to submit claims to payers like Medicare.
Please sign this petition by June 25 to join us in imploring CMS to revise its interpretation of the term "licensure" to include the provisional licensure states issue to new graduates in the process of completing their supervised clinical mentorship.ASHA is advocating for CMS to update its qualified provider requirements and has asked to meet with CMS staff to walk through the relevant federal and state legislative and regulatory history, explain why provisional licensure must be included in federal personnel qualifications for SLPs, and strongly advocate for their inclusion in Medicare.
Keep an eye on ASHA Advocacy News for updates and email reimbursement@asha.org if you have questions about Medicare policy and advocacy.
ashaa.quorum.us/campaign/medicarecf2
LINK for all advocacy efforts:
Meet OUr Lobbyist
| Ashley Perkinson represents both statewide and national organizations at the North Carolina General Assembly. She has grown her practice by always keeping her clients' interest and success as the focus of her work. Ashley currently serves on the Board of the North Carolina Symphony and UNC Alumni Association. She also formerly served as president of the Phi Beta Kappa Association of Wake County, board member of the NC Professional Lobbyist Association and secretary of the Wake County Bar Association. In 2011, Ashley was named by Triangle Business Journal as one of the Triangle's 40 Under 40. Ashley is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism and School of Law. Ashley enjoys providing government relations services to her clients. Thank you Ashley for your hard work and dedication to advocating for North Carolina Speech, Hearing, and Language Professionals! |
Need CCCs to work in North Carolina?
You asked so we asked! Are CCCs required to bill Medicaid in North Carolina? We asked NC Medicaid and they responded with the following:
NC Medicaid policy language on SLP Provider requirements:
Code of Federal Regulations that outlines Provider requirements for SLPs billing for services provided to Medicare and Medicaid patients 42 CFR 440.110(c)(2):
