Clinical Practice Committee
The Clinical Practice Committee (CPC) advocates for Washington State speech language pathologists and audiologists who work in all clinical settings, including hospitals, clinics, rehab facilities, long term care facilities, schools, home health, early support for infants and toddlers, and private practice. Areas of concern and advocacy include licensure, reimbursement, Medicare policy, and tele-health.
State Advocate for Reimbursement (STAR)
The Clinical Practice Committee includes the American Speech and Hearing Association’s “State Advocate for Reimbursement (STAR)” representative for the state of Washington. STAR representatives are speech-language pathologists or audiologists who advocate for improved health care coverage, tele-health and interstate practice compacts, and reasonable reimbursement. STARs form a true network. They link states together and to ASHA through monthly conference calls, a STARs-only e-mail discussion group, and periodic meetings.
How can the STAR Network help me right now?
Your STAR representative serves as a resource to fellow Washington audiologists and speech-language pathologists who need advice or information about telepractice. STARs have the latest story on telehealth legislation and interstate compacts. They are also tracking conversations between ASHA and the nation’s lawmakers around COVID response legislation. Getting in touch is easy. Contact Office@WSLHA.org with any questions or concerns.
ASHA STAR Updates
State Advocates for Medicare Policy (StAMP)
The Clinical Practice Committee also includes the American Speech and Hearing Association’s StAMP, or “State Advocate for Medicare Policy” representative. This key committee member is a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who advocates for Medicare coverage and reimbursement of audiology and speech-language pathology services in the state of Washington.
How can the StAMP Network help me right now?
Your Washington StAMP representative serves as a resource to fellow audiologists and speech-language pathologists regarding compliance with local and national Medicare coverage and payment policies. They can help answer questions about mitigating proposed Medicare payment cuts, COVID relief legislation, and tell you about efforts to expand Medicare coverage to include a range of speech, language, hearing, balance, cognition, and swallowing codes currently excluded from Medicare telehealth coverage. Getting in touch is easy. Washington’s StAMP is Ashleigh Solak (SLP). Contact Office@WSLHA.org with any questions or concerns.
ASHA StAMP Updates
Speech Pathology Assistants (SLP-A)
In the state of Washington, Speech Language Pathology Assistants (SLP-As) can be licensed to practice in a variety of clinical settings, including hospitals, rehab, private clinics, and schools. The majority of Washington SLP-As are currently practicing in the school setting (source). As of July 2021, twenty U.S. states currently have SLP-A training programs, including western region states Oregon, Utah, and California.
