Washington Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Washington Speech-Language-Hearing Association (WSLHA) is an organization that promotes professional excellence in speech-language pathology and audiology.

Mission: Empowering and connecting current and future professionals through advocacy, education, and leadership development, to foster equitable, inclusive, and culturally respectful collaboration with our communities.
Vision: An engaged and thriving community empowered to enrich communication and quality of life for all.

WSLHA is an American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recognized state association.

Letter from the President: Perseverance

3-30-2025

I am disappointed to report HB 1589 will not advance any further this session. HB 1589 supports fair contract negotiations for private and clinical SLPs and audiologists in our state. Senator Cleveland, Representative Bronske, and insurers plan continued negotiations in preparation for the legislative session in 2026. HB1589 had a strong bipartisan vote in the House and negotiations with insurers throughout the legislative session and needs approval by key senators.

WSLHA remains committed to advancing HB1589. Next year, WSLHA will continue the Advocacy Day event, foster partnerships with healthcare allies, build trust through integrity with legislators, and address key concerns with HB1589 to assure its success. WSLHA joined a coalition of 20 professional fields to build increased strength and integrity with the House and the Senate. This coalition strengthens our circle of trust during negotiations.

The relationships WSLHA cultivated with legislators and our unified coalition of 20 healthcare fields builds fortitude and the promise of successful outcomes for the future. Policies influence financial priorities for staffing in clinics and private practice. Fair access to clinical services increases patient access to timely, quality services. Together, the passage of HB1589 builds a stronger, fairer future for Washington State’s healthcare providers.

Thank you for stepping forward on this journey towards change through your own personal call to action. Your call to action is the future that greets us with the promise of hope.

Sincerely,

Laurel White, CCC-SLP

WSLHA President

Volunteer Opportunities Available – Are You?

Are you looking for a way to grow and take advantage of an opportunity to help yourself, your colleagues and your patients, clients, or students. WSLHA, as a volunteer-based organization, has many such opportunities.

Several of our committees need your ideas, your creativity and some of your time. Consider joining one of them. Contact the WSLHA website and complete a volunteer application or email the office to express your interest. WSLHA’s Volunteer Coordinator, Judith Bernier, will contact you to explore the possibilities. Briefly most committees meet once a month for an hour with some work on projects between meetings as needed. Time involvement is estimated at 1-3 hours a month.

The following committees are looking for your assistance – Communications, Membership, School Affairs, and Continuing Education. It’s a great way to meet new colleagues, to strengthen your skill set, to develop your leadership and to grow as a professional. Come join our community of Washington SLPs/Audiologists and Assistants.

Capitol News

WSLHA Priorities:

HB 1686, the bill directing the Department of Health to study the idea of creating a health care entity registry, was signed into law on April 22nd. It becomes effective on July 27th, 2025.

HB 1392, the bill that creates the Medicaid Access Program to increase certain Medicaid reimbursement rates, has been delivered to Governor Ferguson for his signature into law.

HB 2081 is the revenue bill raising the business and occupation (B&O) tax for certain businesses. The B&O tax increases from 1.75% to 2.1% for the ‘service and other activities’ B&O tax rate for businesses with gross income of over $5 million. It has been delivered to Governor Ferguson for his signature into law.

General News:

The Legislature adjourned Sine Die (Latin phrase meaning “without a day to reconvene”) Sunday evening, closing out a tumultuous and emotionally charged session marked by significant political tension, major fiscal challenges, and the deaths of two legislators. From the opening days, the atmosphere was fraught with division. Deep ideological splits over how to address the state’s financial crisis created an environment where lawmakers frequently clashed not only along party lines but also within their own caucuses.

The most pressing issue was the staggering $16 billion budget deficit. The reality of the shortfall quickly consumed legislative discussions, setting the tone for the months ahead. Proposed cuts sparked widespread protests and added to the strain inside the Capitol. In response, a range of revenue ideas were debated, from new taxes on capital gains to expanded sales tax bases and proposals for bond measures.

At the same time legislators were battling over the budget deficit, several policy issues were front-and-center this session. This included a bill to limit annual rent increases; one to provide up to six weeks of unemployment insurance for striking workers; a bill requiring a permit to purchase a gun; and legislation addressing rights of parents of public school students.

The session was further shaken by the death of former House Speaker Frank Chopp. A towering figure in state politics for decades, Chopp's passing was mourned across party lines, with tributes highlighting his enduring legacy on affordable housing and social justice issues. Adding to the heavy mood, Senator Bill Ramos passed away while in office a mere two weeks from Sine Die. And on Saturday, Senator Gildon’s wife, Autumn, unexpectedly passed away.

The final $77.8 billion operating budget includes nearly $6 billion in cuts and close to $9 billion in new revenue over the four-year outlook — significantly less revenue than legislative Democrats had initially sought. The final budget doesn’t tap the $2 billion in Budget Stabilization Account (aka Rainy Day Fund) and leaves $225 million in its cash reserves. The final budget also steers clear of furloughs for state employees, an option both Governor Ferguson and Senate Democrats had floated earlier in the session.

The final revenue package supporting the budget included an increase in business and occupation tax rates and an additional surcharge on businesses with more than $250 million in state taxable revenue. The Legislature also passed bills that established new revenue including a sales tax on tech services and a capital gains tax on investment gains over $1 million. A slimmed-down version of the wealth tax passed the Senate in the final hours of session but died in the House.

It remains unclear whether Governor Ferguson will support the budget in full or issue partial vetoes. His decision will be closely watched, as it could either cement cooperation with the legislative majority or trigger a new round of political negotiations in a special session.

Bills that have passed are now in the queue to be signed by the Governor if they have not been signed already. Bills that are delivered to the governor more than five days before the Legislature adjourns have five days to be acted on. Bills that are delivered fewer than five days before the Legislature adjourns have 20 days to be acted on by the governor. Both are counted as calendar days, not business days. Sundays are not counted, but Saturdays and state holidays are.

Since this is the first year of the biennium, any bills that did not pass remain alive for consideration in the 2026 session.

To C or Not to C: Making Decisions about Your SLP Licensure and Accreditations in Washington State

Disclosure: WSLHA receives grants and advocacy support from ASHA

Recently, WSLHA has received questions from our SLP community about maintaining ASHA CCCs. As the cost of living is on the rise, many SLPs are looking for ways to cut expenses. ASHA membership or certification is not required to be a member of WSLHA, and we neither endorse nor oppose ASHA membership or certification. While the decision about maintaining your ASHA Cs is yours and yours alone, there are several things to consider:

Clinical and ESIT settings. Most clinical settings and ESIT agencies in Washington require SLPs to hold state licensure from the Department of Health. ASHA Cs are not required for state licensure, but licensure requirements mirror the requirements for Cs. Some insurance companies and healthcare organizations still require ASHA Cs in addition to proof of license. If you are considering dropping your ASHA Cs, talk with your employer or insurers first.

School settings. While ESA certification is required by OSPI for SLPs working in Washington State public schools, ASHA certification is not. However, some school districts prefer or require their SLPs to hold licensure and/or ASHA Cs. If you already have your ASHA Cs, ESA renewal is easy. Just upload a copy of your ASHA certificate when you log into the e-certification system. If you do not have ASHA Cs, you will need to provide proof of 100 clock hours earned over a 5-year period.

Supervision: If you enjoy supervising and mentoring students and clinical fellows, take note. For students enrolled in ASHA accredited Master’s degree programs, ASHA requires that supervising clinicians hold and maintain their Cs.

Working abroad: Considering working outside of the US? A number of countries have mutual recognition of professional association credentials. For example, ASHA certification is recognized by the national associations of Canada, Ireland, UK, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore, but those countries may not recognize your state licensure. If you plan to work abroad, check your destination country’s requirements first.

Changing professional settings. Many clinicians start their career in one setting and explore others along the way. One of the advantages to being an SLP is the option to work across different settings. While ASHA Cs might not be required in your current setting, they could be required in a future setting.

ASHA Membership vs Certification. Did you know that you don’t have to be an ASHA member to retain your Cs? You can also be an ASHA member without certification. Contact the ASHA Center for more information about these options and the associated costs.

Final thoughts. WSLHA encourages you to carefully consider your options for ASHA certification and membership, keeping your present and future needs in mind. Regardless of your ASHA certification or membership, we encourage you to be involved in WSLHA. Many of the decisions that are made at the state level affect your practice. WSLHA is your voice in Washington State.

Deirdre Curle, PhD, CCC-SLP is Past-President of WSLHA. She lives in Seattle and is a speech-language pathologist at the Washington Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth. She holds ASHA Cs and affiliation with SIG 9, Pediatric Hearing and Hearing Disorders.

Resources