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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.
May 8, 2009
Speech Pathologist & Audiologist
Of the Year
Nominations Needed
The 2009 Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year and Audiologist of the Year will be recognized at the Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Professional Association annual convention in February of 2010. Today more than ever, communication disorder professionals are an integral part of health care for children and adults. Here is your chance to pay tribute to a special speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist who has made a difference in your life or the life of someone close to you!
To submit a nomination, simply forward a letter including your name, address and phone number along with the name of your nominee. Letters should include a brief statement about why the nominee should receive this award. You may not nominate a family member.
Submit nominations to:
wsha@wisha.org
Or
Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Professional Association
1360 Regent Street #154
Madison, WI 53715
Deadline for entry is May 31, 2009. Deadeline has been extended to August 31, 2009.
April 29, 2009
Language Intervention Research Study,
Parents and their children with autism under the age of 5 are invited to
participate in a language intervention research study at the Waisman Center,
UW-Madison. This research project is based upon More Than Words – the Hanen
The intervention project will begin in June and will last 8 weeks. Interested parents are invited to attend
an orientation session on either May 4 or May 11th from 6:30-8:00pm in room
114 of the Waisman Center, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison.
Click here for additional information.
April 24 , 2009
WSHA-P Applauds Passage of Senate Bill 27
Proposal requires insurance coverage for hearing aids, cochlear implants for children
Madison, WI—The Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Professional
Association (WSHA-P) applauds passage of Senate Bill 27, which requires health
insurance coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for children. The Wisconsin
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Professional Association (WSHA-P)
commends Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and Representative Dave Cullen (DMilwaukee)
for their hard work, and the advocates and parents who have worked
tirelessly to pass this important piece of legislation.
“The members of the Wisconsin Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Professional
Association applaud the passage of the hearing aid/cochlear implant legislation,” said Dr.
Laura Feldhake, VP of Audiology Services for WSHA-P. “For the last decade,
Wisconsin has screened infants for hearing loss, however we have not helped families
cope with the added financial burdens that treatment of this diagnosis brings.”
Many families in Wisconsin struggle to pay their daily bills; the additional cost of hearing
aids or cochlear implants and resultant therapy is simply too much of a burden. As a
result, the treatment of many children is delayed or nonexistent. According to Feldhake:
“Language is used for a range of functions in school and in everyday life. Without
proper access to language, children are at risk for development delays, which translate
into higher education costs, reduced employment capabilities, and an increase in long
term costs to the general population. WSHA has worked closely with families to see that
children have improved access to treatment.”
Today’s accomplishment is a step in the right direction for Wisconsin’s hearing-impaired
children.
Click on the link below to read an article posted to the JS Online - Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/43550272.html
November 6, 2008
Wisconsin's Medicaid computer system is being retired and a new system is set to go online November 12, 2008. Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists who work with Medicaid will need to be aware of specific changes to the system especially those who apply for Prior Authorizations.
The following presentation is a provider specific overview of the new ForwardHealth interChange system.
2008 Medicaid Changes for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists - 1slide per page.
2008 Medicaid Changes for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists - 3 slides per page.
August 7, 2008
ASHA ACE Awards
Click here for a list of recipients of the ASHA ACE Award awarded between January 1, 2007 and December 12, 2007.
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