|
January 19, 2010
CHAPTER 459 UPDATE
Public Hearing for Assembly Bill 553 scheduled!
Assembly Committee on Health and Healthcare Reform
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
417 North (GAR Hall)
State Capitol
WSHA-P NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH MANDATED COVERAGE FOR AUTISM SERVICES! PLEASE HELP!
Now that insurance coverage is mandated for autism services, WSHA-P wants to know what you have been experiencing with reimbursement and verification processes. Are you billing under the new mandate? Are you being reimbursed? How are insurers verifying you as a qualified provider? We need to know about your personal experiences! Please email your experiences and concerns to WSHA-P Governmental Affairs VP Mary Bahr Schwenke.
Please contact Mary Bahr Schwenke at: vp.government@wisha.org
Background -
Mandated coverage for autism services went into effect several months ago. Under the mandate, autism services provided by SLPs are covered. However, to be considered a qualified therapist, SLPs must show evidence of 1200 hours of training that include all of the following:
1) Seven hundred fifty hours supervised training involving direct 1:1 work with individuals, including pediatric individuals, with autism spectrum disorders using evidence-based, efficacious therapy models.
2) Supervised experience with all of the following:
a. Working with families as the direct speech or occupational therapist and ensuring treatment compliance.
b. Treating individuals with autism spectrum disorders who function at a variety of cognitive levels and exhibit a variety of skill deficits and strengths.
c. Treating individuals with autism spectrum disorders with a variety of behavioral challenges.
d. Treating individuals with autism spectrum disorders who have shown improvement to the average range in language ability and adaptive and social interaction skills.
Autism Frequently Asked Questions
January 13, 2010
At the WSHA-P Annual Membership Meeting, the WSHA-P Executive Board will present to the membership suggested by-laws revisions.
The proposed revised by-laws may be reviewed by clicking here.
November 30, 2009
Do you work with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders?
Do you bill for the speech-language therapy services you deliver?
Are you aware of the new insurance mandate regarding the coverage of services?
Are you aware of the changes in qualification for providing and receiving reimbursed under the new mandate?
If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, WSHA-P and the speech-language pathology community of the state of Wisconsin needs to hear your voice.
The Office of OCI is holding a public hearing to consider the adoption of the attached proposed rulemaking order affecting section Ins 3.36, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to autism spectrum disorders treatment and affecting small business.
HEARING INFORMATION
Date: December 2, 2009
Time: 2:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be reached
Place: OCI, Room 227, 125 South Webster St 2nd Floor, Madison, WI
Please contact Mary Bahr Schwenke , MS., CCC-SLP, WSHA-P VP of Governmental Affairs if you are interested in testifying on behalf of our profession: vp.government@wisha.org.
OCI Public Hearing Notice
Autism Emergency Rule
October 15, 2009
It's not too early to be thinking of colleagues whose work
should be recognized with an award.
The following awards are now open for nominations:
The Honors of the Association recognizes distinguished contributions to the field of communicative disorders and is the highest honor awarded by WSHA-P.
The WSHA-P Salutes Outstanding Service Award is for any individual, WSHA-P member or nonmember, group of individuals or organization that contributes to the field of communicative disorders.
The WSHA-P Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual for years of professional service to the field of communication disorders.
The Wisconsin Frank R. Kleffner Lifetime Clinical Career Award is intended for an individual who has made outstanding contributions to clinical science and practice in communication science and disorders over a twenty-year or longer period. The contributions may have been in clinical service, clinical research or any other activity, which has promoted excellence in clinical services.
Click here for additional information and nominations guidelines.
October 15. 2009
Student Weekend 2009. Click here for additional photos.
June 2, 2009
 Hearing Aid Bill Signed Into Law
Wisconsin first in nation to require insurance coverage for cochlear implants
Governor Doyle today signed legislation authored by State Senator Julie
Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and State Representative David Cullen (D-Milwaukee) requiring
insurance companies to provide coverage for hearing aids and cochlear implants for
children. The Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Professional
Association (WSHA-P) applauds Governor Jim Doyle for signing this important piece of
legislation into law and the numerous advocates and parents who have worked tirelessly
on this issue. While a number of states require insurance coverage for hearing aids,
Wisconsin is the first in the nation to require coverage for cochlear implants.
Many children are diagnosed with hearing loss each year, and medical insurance does not
always cover the cost of necessary treatment and services. With families struggling to
pay their daily bills, the additional cost of hearing aids or cochlear implants along with
the resultant therapy makes acquiring appropriate care and treatment difficult for many
families. As a result, treatment is often delayed or nonexistent, typically resulting in
much higher costs for special education services.
The new law will provide relief to many families struggling to balance the costs of
treatment and services associated with their child’s diagnosis of deaf or hearing impaired.
Thank you to all members who took the time to contact their legislators and to testify on behalf of this legislation.
WSHA-P does not want to stop here. We are supporting the national movement for a tax credit for hearing aids. Please contact your federal representatives and urge them to support HR 1646 & S 1019. To date, HR 1646 has 74 cosponsors however its counterpart has none. Since we did so well conquering the state, let's see what we can do as a team at the federal level. Encourage all of your co-workers and patients to communicate the need for this tax credit. It's amazing what heights Grassroots efforts can achieve.
Click here for additional photos.
June 2, 2009
 WSHA-P in partnership with the University of Whitewater and University of Wisconsin-Madison Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology students successfully celebrated Better Hearing and Speech Month at the State Capitol on May 12th. Free hearing screenings were offered to the public from 10:30 – 2:30. Over 50 pure tone and otoacoustic emissions screenings were conducted by our volunteer students and audiologists.
We are grateful for the energy, enthusiasm, and dedication these individuals bring to our professions. With the generous commitment of time, professionalism and resources, we were able to raise awareness about the audiology and speech language pathology professions and the valuable services we provide.
We would like to take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt thank you to the audiologists and students as well Ramie Zelenkova, WSHA-P lobbyist, for their time and expertise. It wouldn’t have been a success without you!
Student volunteers: Sara Gustafson, UWW grad student and event coordinator; Angie Broeckert, UWW grad student; Cara Matson, UWW grad student; Keegan Ray, UWW grad student; Lindsay Haselow, UWW grad student; Theresa Smith, UWW grad student; Crystal Euler, UWW grad student; Emilie Trimberger, UWW NSSHLA; Nicci Blythe, UWW NSSHLA' Leah Radewan, UWW NSSHLA; Erin McGee, UWW NSSHLA; Lexi Barian, UWW NSSHLA; Eileen Haebig, WSHA-P student representative
Audiologists: Dr. Laura Feldhake, WSHA-P VP-Audiology; Dr. Scott Bradley, UW- Whitewater; Dr. Kimberly Smuda, UW-Madison; Jennifer Jennings, CCC-A; Amy Hartmann, CCC-A, UW-Madison
Click here for additional photos.
May 27, 2009
Congratulations to Caryn Easterling who received the 2009 Byoung Kim Teaching Excellence Award from the College of Health Sciences. This award is presented to an outstanding teacher based upon qualities that help students reach their academic potential-that is: motivation, inspiration and encouragement.
|
