Tennessee State Advocates
What is advocacy?
According to ASHA (American Speech Language Hearing Association), advocacy is the “essential and necessary means by which ASHA and affiliated state associations support and advance the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology in areas of public policy, political action, and popular opinion.”
Advocacy is necessary to keep Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists informed and up to date with the latest information about policies that directly affect our professions. It also allows us the ability to get support so that we may gain knowledge and have access to the tools that we can use to promote change in our fields.
Who are our advocacy reps in Tennessee and what do they advocate for?
In the state of Tennessee, TAASLP (Tennessee Association for Audiologist and Speech Language Pathologist) advocates for the needs of our speech-language pathologist and audiologists to improve issues related to funding and service delivery.
In our state and others, there are three state-based advocacy networks.
SEALs:
SEAL is the acronym for State Education Advocacy Leaders. SEALs aid by providing leadership, guidance, and support on matters that affect funding and delivery of services of SLPs and audiologists in the academic setting. In our state, I, Shequria Williams, am the SEALS representative. I have had the pleasure of connecting with other SEAL representatives across the country to learn of policies that are currently affecting our professions in addition to learning of the actions that representatives in each state are taking to try to overcome issues affecting our professions in the academic setting. Each month, I attend meetings to connect with others and talk about ways to make service delivery in academic settings better. Topics that we discuss include caseload/workload caps, SLP (Speech Language Pathologist) shortages in the schools, salary supplements, state tests and licensure to work as an SLP in the academic setting, and we even brainstorm ways to increase membership in state organizations. I have had the pleasure of connecting with therapists within our state that seek support and information necessary to learn how to advocate for themselves on matters that affect their ability to supply FAPE (free appropriate education) to their students.
StAMP:
StAMP is the acronym for State Advocates for Medicare Policy. StAMPs aid by providing leadership, guidance, and support on matters affecting coverage reimbursement and the delivery of services under Medicare funding. In our state, Jennifer Henderson is the StAMP representative. Each month, Jennifer attends meetings with StAMPS across the country to learn of Medicare related issues that affect the service delivery of speech-pathologists and audiologists. She has had the pleasure of discussing topics related to Medicare caregiver training codes, value-based care, and other Medicare Reimbursement related topics.
STAR:
STAR is the acronym for State Advocates for Reimbursement. STARs aid by providing leadership, guidance, and support on matters affecting coverage reimbursement and the delivery of services under Medicaid funding and private pay. In our state, Kacey Hammonds is the STAR representative. Each month, Kacey attends meetings with STARs across the country to learn of Medicaid related issues that affect the service delivery of speech-pathologists and audiologists. Kacey has had the pleasure of discussing topics related to Developmental coverage, F-code issues, habilitation exclusions, telehealth coverage reducing in fee in some states, and network adequacy.
What are TAASLP and our Tennessee Advocates currently working on?
- TAASLP is currently analyzing school SLP caseload data, with an end goal of introducing caseload or workload caps in Tennessee
- TAASLP continues to check on going changes to the Affordable Care Act in Tennessee and its effect on provision of services by audiologists and speech-language
- New Laws of Special Interest to TAASLP
- TAASLP is continuing to advocate for Medicare/Medicaid increases in reimbursement and fighting against cuts to services.
Past accomplishments include:
- 2022-Telepractice approved for reimbursement past Covid emergency. This was passed in 2021 and became permanent in 2022.
- 2022- Joined the Interstate Compact
- 2019 – Assisted in the repeal of the Professional Privilege Tax for 15 of the original 22 professions, including Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists
- 2019 – Introduced successful legislation which established a provisional license for SLP Clinical Fellows (CFs), allowing them to be reimbursed by Medicare and other third-party payers
- 2015 – Introduced legislation to repeal the Professional Privilege Tax. Our efforts contributed to the study that is being signed into law (as of 4.22.16)
- 2011 – Received ASHA STAR grant for developing student advocacy participation at the state level. Conducted ‘Day on the Hill’ event for undergraduate and graduate students from across the state
- 2011 – Legislation mandating insurance coverage for hearing aids for children passed
- 2007 – Legislation explicitly allowing speech-language pathologists to perform endoscopy passed
- Advocated for legislation mandating newborn hearing screening
- Advocated for insurance mandate for autism coverage
Contacts:
Contacts for the State of Tennessee Advocates are as follows:
Shequria Williams, SEAL Representative: gandy004@gmail.com
Jennifer Henderson, StAMP Representative: jhenderson@mysidekicktherapy.com
Kacey Hammonds, STAR Representative: khammonds@mysidekicktherapy.com
Resources:
State-Based Advocacy Networks (asha.org)
Advocacy Services | Audiologists, Speech-Pathologists & Clients | TAASLP