On behalf of the WSHA Foundation, Inc., it is my pleasure to announce the opening of the application process for the 2026 WSHA Foundation, Inc. Scholarships. ( applications are due on or before 6/28/25).

In 2025, at the WSHA Convention in Pewaukee the Foundation awarded a record amount, $20,000.00 in scholarships to eight graduate students!

Please note that all scholarship awards have been increased this year by $1,000 per scholarship! The Board of Directors of the WSHA Foundation, Inc. hopes that this announcement will encourage many students to apply for the wonderful scholarship opportunities!

Please encourage the students in your programs to apply for the scholarships. Information for each of the following scholarship awards can be found at: wisha.org

The deadline date for scholarship applications is: on or before June 28, 2025.

Here are the specific scholarships offered to graduate students in Speech Pathology and Audiology programs within the state:

Jack Kile Scholarship: $2,000.00

Risa Mari Otto Scholarship: $3,000.00

Nancy McKinley Scholarship: $2,000.00

Friends of WSHA Scholarship: $2,500.00

Heart of Healthcare Scholarship: $2,500.00

Judith and David Ward Scholarship: $2,000.00

The Vicki Lord Larson and James R. Larson Research Grant: $2,000.00

Since founding the WSHA Foundation in 2000 we have awarded over $300,000.00 in scholarships to deserving students. We hope you will encourage your students to take advantage of this wonderful honor and opportunity.

If you have questions or would like to establish a scholarship or donate, please contact: Caryn Easterling at caryn@uwm.edu or cseasterling@aol.com

Sincere best wishes,

Caryn Easterling, PhD

President WSHA Foundation, Inc.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is preparing to change the claims payer for the Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) Program. Beginning May 5, 2025, CLTS claims will be processed by Gainwell Technologies, which is also the fiscal agent for ForwardHealth. You can attend a training to learn how to submit claims and view your authorizations.

When is the training?

The trainings will be held online through Microsoft Teams at the dates and times listed below. 

If you have experience with and are comfortable navigating websites and online submissions, you are encouraged to attend one of the following trainings:

• Wednesday, February 19, 2025, from 10–11:30 a.m.
• Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 5–6:30 p.m.

Register for the February 19 training

Register for the February 27 training

If you need more help navigating websites and online submissions, you are encouraged to attend one of the following trainings:

• Thursday, February 20, 2025, from 10–11:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, February 25, 2025, from 5–6:30 p.m.

Register for the February 20 training

Register for the February 25 training

The registration email will come from Gainwell Technologies, not DHS. Don’t forget to add the training to your calendar using the Add to Calendar link once you’ve registered!

What if I can’t be there?

The trainings will be recorded and posted to the CLTS Provider TPA transition webpageafterward so those who cannot attend can refer to the information later.

More information

For more information on the transition to the new claims payer, refer to the Children’s Long-Term Support Program: Third-Party Administration Transition page of the ForwardHealth Portal.

Joan was an Emeritus Clinical Professor, Speech Language Pathologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana and her Master’s Degree from the University of Connecticut-Storrs. Joan’s clinical interest at the Waisman Center in Madison included the treatment of children’s speech delays, stuttering and other fluency disorders.  More information is available here.

Opportunity to Test New CLTS ForwardHealth Portal for Providers

The claims payer for the Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) program will transition from WPS to Gainwell Technologies in May 2025. The Department of Health Services and Gainwell Technologies invites you to test our Submission Sandbox (SETE testing) in the ForwardHealth Portal before the system goes live.

Participating in the Submission Sandbox allows you to test portal functionality before it goes live in May 2025 without disrupting any actual claims.

Portal functionality includes, but is not limited to:

• Direct entry of claims into the portal.
• The ability to copy a claim in paid status to a new claim for editing.
• Creating claims from authorizations.

If you are interested in participating in the Submission Sandbox, email the Gainwell Technologies CLTS Operations Team at cltsoperations@gainwelltechnologies.com by February 7. The Submission Sandbox testing date will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

WSHA remembers longtime member Theodore "Ted" Tweed.  We're grateful for his impact on audiology in Wisconsin. Join us as we reflect on reflect on all that he did to serve our patients, train our students and advocate for our profession.  The obituary is available here.

Congratulations to the 2025 WSHA Award Recipients!

Honors of the Association
Julie Gamradt

WSHA Salutes Outstanding Service
Sue Lethlean
Betty Zientara

ASHA Foundation Clinical Achievement
Courtney Seidel

Rolland J. VanHattum
Lisa Kirby-Mangas

Audiologist of the Year
Maria Hemenway

SLP of the Year
Katie Jacobson

Student Mentor
Kristin Murphey

Student Leadership
Cassidy Laue

Join us at the convention where we'll recognize these individuals for their significant contributions to the profession!

The 2025 WSHA Awards Ceremony will be held on Thursday, February 6 during the Annual Convention at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, WI. Nominations are needed for all awards! Please consider submitting a nomination (or two!). The nomination process is quick and painless. Visit the WSHA Website (https://www.wisha.org/awards) to review the award description and submit your nomination today! Then make plans to join us for the reception in February. 

It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we announce the recipients of the 2025 WSHA Foundation, Inc. Scholarships.  

We will be awarding $20,000.00 in scholarship awards this year to outstanding graduate students in your programs!  This year we have increased all of the scholarship amounts and received a record number of applications for the WSHA Foundation, Inc. Scholarships!

The scholarships will be presented at the WSHA Convention on February 6^th at the Ingelside Hotel in Pewaukee, WI.  Please attend to support these wonderful recipients!

Here are the talented and gifted future professionals who are make up the 2025 recipients:

Vicki Lord Larson and James R. .Larson Research Grant
Maryann N. Krasko - University of Wisconsin-Madison $3,000.00

Risa Mari Otto Scholarship 
Karen Zielke de Picado - Marquette University $3,000.00
Emily Castillo - Marquette University $3,000.00

Jack Kile Scholarship
Mariana Ibanez-Baldor - University of Wisconsin-Madison $2,000.00

Judith H. and David J. Ward Scholarship
Kyra Saylor -  University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire $2,000.00

Heart of Healthcare Scholarship
Morgan Lutgen - University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point $2,500.00

Friends of WSHA Scholarship
Meghan Borowski  - University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire $2,500.00

Nancy McKinley Scholarship
Cassidy Laue - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater $2,000.00

Please consider donating to the WSHA Foundation, Inc. 

Recently members of WSHA’s Medicaid Committee met with representatives of the Department of Health Services (DHS). Purpose of the meeting was to follow up on issues presented in February addressing barriers encountered by providers when seeking services for Medicaid members through the prior authorization (PA)/adjudication process. Positive changes obtained from providers were shared:

• number of questions on returned PAs has decreased

• requests for submission of ABA plans of care have decreased

• approvals for members with complex diagnoses over the age of 6 have been noted

Providers have observed a new pattern utilized by reviewers. Approval messages include a list of items to be addressed should a subsequent PA be submitted. Reportedly, this has been helpful and has resulted in approval of subsequent PAs. Providers also reported “cut and paste” questions and requirement to provide language-age equivalents for members with complex habilitation/rehabilitation needs continue to appear on returned PAs.

DHS presented recent data on the adjudication of durable medical equipment, i.e. speech generating devices (SGD). 305 SGDs (98% of submissions) were approved from September 2023 through February 2024. The most common reasons cited for returns on these PAs were:

• missing manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for requested accessories

• missing documentation, e.g. PA forms, prescriptions, face-to-face requirements, clerical errors

• request for IEP

• face-to-face and prescription requirements were not met

• functional use of SGD across settings was missing

Members pointed out SLPs provide recommendations for SGDs and accessories, but the vendor frequently fails to provide pricing information. Following collaboration with school-based SLPs it is difficult to obtain IEPs. DHS suggested providers go back to vendors, CESAs, special education directors, Children’s Long-Term Support Council to address these issues.

WSHA’s Medicaid Committee is seeking information from providers on their experience with the PA process. Please submit questions or concerns pertinent to the issues described above and to report other barriers accessing/providing speech/language services for Wisconsin’s Medical Assistance members. WSHA@badgerbay.co (not .com)