We’re looking for a student representative to serve on the WSHA Board of Directors. The current opening is for the SLP position. The SLP student representative will participate in the quarterly board meetings and will work with the AuD Student Representative to plan the student track held during the WSHA Annual Convention as well as other student activities. If interested in this position, please submit your Candidate Statement and resume to WSHA@badgerbay.co. The deadline to submit your interest is June 30, 2024. 

Lawrence D. Shriberg, Ph,D. passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 26, 2024. Dr. Shriberg had a long and meritorious career as a Professor in the UW-Madison Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and as a Research Professor at the UW-Madison Waisman Research Center. He directed the Phonology Project and co-directed the Phonology Clinic. His research focused on “the origins, assessment, and treatment of children with speech and motor speech disorders of known and unknown origin.” Across his career, Dr. Shriberg was the recipient of many awards and accolades. Most notably in 2002 ASHA recognized Dr. Shriberg with the Honors of the Association Award, ASHA’s highest award that “recognizes distinguished contribution to the field of speech, language, and hearing. Honors recipients are well known throughout the nation and the world for a lifetime of innovative clinical practice, insightful and rigorous research, creative administration, effective legislative activity, outstanding teaching, or other distinguished professional contribution.” In 2004 ASHA awarded Dr. Shriberg the Alfred K. Kawana Council of Editors Award. “The award recognizes a sustained history of exemplary publications. It is awarded to a scholar whose journal articles are meritorious in terms of educational, scientific, or clinical value … and whose contributions extended over a period of at least 10 years.” Dr. Shriberg was a kind, generous, humble person who quietly volunteered and did community service in his free time. He was highly respected and will long be remembered by so many in our field.

*This information was condensed and adapted from the websites posted by the UW-Madison Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the UW-Madison Waisman Center.

The consolidation and Appropriation Act of 2024 (H.R. 4366) will reduce Medicare Part B cuts from the anticipated 3.4% to 1.7% for the remainder of 2024 for outpatient services. These cuts are part of budget neutrality that started in 2021.  WSHA members can continue to participate in take action advocacy efforts via ASHA in order to mitigate Medicare Part B cuts at https://www.votervoice.net/ASHAaction/campaigns/90403/respond. CMS released the proposed Fee Schedule Rules for both skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehab facilities at the end of March and early April. Within these rules there were several changes, but most notably payments to SNFs will increase by 4.1% in FY 2025 and payments for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) will increase 2.8% for in fiscal year 2025.

On behalf of the WSHA Foundation, Inc., it is my pleasure to announce the opening of the application process for the 2024-25 WSHA Foundation, Inc. Scholarships.

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 !

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 $200,000.00 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.

Board of Directors
Jodi Antinoja
Amy Chavie
Jenna Haberkorn
Jamie Mayer
Sarah Virlee Zapien

Senate Bill 373 was introduced to update state law following the FDA’s final rule on over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids for adults 18 years of age and older. WSHA worked with the bill authors on the technical aspect of the legislation to ensure appropriate implementation. The bill was approved by the Legislature last month and sent to the Governor for his consideration. We expect the Governor will sign the legislation.

Wisconsin Act 82 was published on December 7, 2023. The act requires the Hearing and Speech Examining Board to promulgate rules to implement cerumen management training and certification for hearing instrument specialists. This is required by law and will be done through the administrative rulemaking process. This is a very involved process with many distinct and important steps including approval by both the Governor’s Office and Legislature. WSHA will be involved in all stages of this process.

There are several vacancies on the Hearing and Speech Examining Board. Are you an Audiologist? Do you know a member of the public who may wish to serve? The Hearing and Speech Examining Board is the occupational regulatory board for Audiologists, Speech Language Pathologists and Hearing Instrument Specialists.The members of the Hearing and Speech Examining Board are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature to serve 4-year terms. The Board consists of three hearing instrument specialist members, one otolaryngologist member, two audiologist members, two speech-language pathologist members, and two public members one of which is required to be a hearing aid user.

Our Medicaid Committee is prioritizing work to address barriers encountered in the Medicaid prior authorization process. Our committee meets regularly with the Department of Health Services on matters specific to speech and hearing, in addition to quarterly meetings with the Department of Health Services and other therapy associations. In February our Medicaid Committee presented two major areas of concern 1) extensive information required when a Medicaid-covered individual is simultaneously receiving ABA and speech/language services and 2) extensive information required for adjudication of AAC/SGD services that often does not reflect best practice in this specialty area. 

WSHA provided supporting documentation that speech/language and ABA services are not duplicative. ABA services should not be interpreted as a substitute for the skills warranted by a speech/language pathologist, i.e. clinical training/competencies in evaluation and treatment of communicative and feeding/swallowing disorders, in the provision of services for this neurodiverse population. In the future the ABA plan of care will not be required with submission of speech/language Medicaid prior authorization requests when the SLP attests that contact has been made/collaboration with ABA provider has occurred. SLP must document date, method, and outcome of attempts to obtain the ABA plan of care and collaboration efforts with the behavior management provider in Section IV – items #16 and #17 of PA/TA. Treatment should not be delayed because of unsuccessful attempts to obtain the ABA plan of care.  

WSHA’s review of returned PAs indicates clinical treatment for severely involved users of AAC/SGDs has been limited and restricted by reviewers’ requirements which do not reflect best practice. WSHA

emphasized the number of providers and clinics offering AAC/SGD specialty services continues to shrink for the Medicaid population. Low reimbursement and extensive and inappropriate information required for adjudication of AAC/SGD services will continue to put pressure on the already limited number of providers and clinics. DHS acknowledged training with reviewers is ongoing. Reportedly reviewers have been advised to pose less and more precise questions when prior authorization (PA)s are returned for information and when information is not provided in the original submission, however some type of objective data is needed to determine improvement. Reports of functional progress provided by caregivers or communicative partners, advancement on developmental stage of language acquisition, increased pragmatic use of language, and/or objective data can be used to document progress. Remarks made by reviewers indicating evaluation for AAC/SGDs can readily be obtained through a vendor promoting such devices versus a SLP with expertise in this specialty area were refuted. Training required for comprehensive assessment such as matching features to needs and skills of communicator, assessing use of AAC in various settings, providing language development training for immediate and long-term needs, was highlighted as medically necessary. 

If you are a Medicaid provider and have questions, concerns, or experience to share please reach out to our committee at WSHA@badgerbay.co

We are reaching out to provide an update on Senate Bill 419 relating to cerumen management by hearing instrument specialists. The legislation circulated in late August. The WSHA board was notified, reviewed, and deliberated the proposal. That included outreach to both ASHA and AAA, and legislative sponsors.

The bill will allow a hearing instrument specialist to engage in cerumen management if a hearing instrument specialist completes courses in cerumen management identified and approved by the Hearing and Speech Examining Board, including a final examination. The bill directs the Hearing and Speech Examining Board to promulgate rules to implement the cerumen management certification, including rules to define the scope of cerumen management and to establish proper infection control practices. 

Legislators across the country, including here in Wisconsin, are looking to address access to care issues and provider shortages by advancing legislation that allows providers to practice at “the top of their scope,” expand scope of practice, and even create new mid-level providers. We see similar proposals affecting physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, nurse practitioners, and more. We know these cannot be the only solutions and we recognize the scope creep in Senate Bill 419. That said, proposals similar to Senate Bill 419 have moved quickly in other states. After much discussion the WSHA Board opted to communicate the importance of adequate training, education, and oversight by the Hearing and Speech Examining Board, which was maintained in the bill.

It is incumbent upon us as professionals, and members of WSHA, to educate patients and consumers about the important differences between hearing instrument specialists and audiologists. 

We did hear from several AuD members that disagreed with WSHA’s decision.  We understand their concern and appreciate the open dialogue. WSHA intends to be engaged in the rule making process and will work closely with our AuD members at that stage. We will express our concerns about consumer safety and will stress the importance of proper training and oversight from the Hearing and Speech Examining Board.  

Connecting Wisconsin families with special health care needs to essential support and resources

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today launched a new service that will transform the support structure for families of children with delays, disabilities, special health care needs, or mental health conditions. Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children’s Resource Network includes a user-friendly website and toll-free helpline that lets families easily connect with real people – dedicated children’s resource guides – who will help navigate through the essential services and supports that will enable their children to thrive.

“This service is a critical step toward improving the way families with special health care needs access and connect with the vital resources they need, especially during crucial moments like after an initial diagnosis,” said DHS Deputy Secretary Deb Standridge. “Our children’s resource guides are people committed to personally assisting families on this journey. Wisconsin Wayfinder embodies our commitment to inclusivity, support, and accessibility for our state’s children and their families.”

A statewide, user-friendly website, dhs.wi.gov/wiscway, and toll-free number, 877-WiscWay (877-947-2929), provide families with convenient, direct access to compassionate and knowledgeable children’s resource guides.