The Ohio Insurance Initiative, a committee of the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association, was formed in southern Ohio to investigate methods of improving 3rd party reimbursements for speech and/or hearing services.  Committee members are from hospital, university, clinic, private practice and school work settings.  This committee represents a unified effort from our professionals to advocate in multiple arenas.  The following is a summary of their objectives:

Insurance Initiative
Goals and Objectives

1. Parent / Family Advocacy:   Educate and empower families of children with speech, language and hearing  needs to advocate for improved health insurance coverage.  Facilitate insurance authorization and appeals process for our families.
   

2. Employer Advocacy:   Educate employers, unions and other purchasers of health benefits about the limitations of most insurance plans for pediatric speech, language and hearing services.  Provide information regarding the availability and cost of riders/expanded coverage.
   

3. Legislative Advocacy:   Pursue legislative advocacy for improved coverage of pediatric speech, language and hearing services.
   

4. General Public / Media Advocacy:   Educate general public about limitations of most insurance plans for pediatric speech, language and hearing services.  Highlight struggles of families battling with insurance.
   

5. Insurance Plan Advocacy:   Collaborate with insurance plans in efforts to expand coverage.  Educate insurance plans about the value of speech, language and hearing services.  Work to streamline administrative procedures to increase efficiency and reduce cost for both insurance plan and health care provider.
   

6. Health Care Advocacy

• Speech & Hearing Professional Advocacy:   Publicize initiative to speech-language pathologists and audiologists.  Encourage other states to join in the effort.

• Health Care Provider Advocacy:  Target education of local hospitals and health care organizations.  These organizations are devaluing the very services they provide by not covering these services for their own employees.

• Physician Advocacy:   Educate physician groups about the limitations of most insurance plans for pediatric speech, language and hearing services.  Provide information on how physicians can help including example letters of medical necessity for appeals.

7. Funding:  Obtain Funding to Further Initiative:   Apply for grants from speech & hearing professional organizations and other organizations dedicated to health care and children.