OSLHA
OSHGAC Representatives:
(Click name to send email to representative)
1)  Bernard Henri
2)  Donna Edwards 
3)  Amy Thorpe

Defining the Relationship Between OSHGAC and OSLHA

Erin L. Miller, Au.D., OSHGAC Chair

The Ohio Speech and Hearing Governmental Affairs Coalition (OSHGAC) was founded in 1982 to monitor and provide timely input regarding legislative, regulatory and government activity that may impact the professions of audiology and speech/language pathology.  Merriam-Webster defines coalition as an alliance of distinct parties, persons, or states for joint action.  Current membership in the coalition consists of representatives from four speech and hearing professional associations including:

• Ohio Academy of Audiology (OAA)

• Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association (OSLHA)

• Ohio School Speech Pathologists Educational Audiologists Coalition (OSSPEAC)

• Ohio Council of Speech and Hearing Administrators (OCSHA). 

Each of the four member organizations are required to appoint three representatives to the OSHGAC. These representatives may serve many roles; however, their most important role is to present association and/or member concerns regarding legislation, governmental or regulatory issues to the GAC. 

Additionally they serve as an intermediary between the coalition and the member organization Board of Directors. 

The representatives are required to attend monthly meetings in Columbus (or via teleconference.) Representatives may serve as officers in the coalition.  Beyond attendance at monthly meetings, representatives work to gather information to support issues and legislation relating to speech and audiology.  Additionally they may be asked to create “white papers” about these issues.  The “white papers” assist our lobbyists in educating legislators about the issue at hand.  Representatives may also be required to testify about these issues at legislative committee meetings and/or with government agencies. OSLHA is currently represented on the OSHGAC by Bernard Henri, Donna Edwards and Amy Thorpe.

OSHGAC has hired a lobbying group, Governmental Policy Group, to assist OSHGAC in implementing their goals. The GPG lobbyists include Brooke Cheney, Victor Hipsley, Kelly O’Reilly and Matt Whitehead.  Kelly O’Reilly, the Director of Governmental Affairs for GPG works closely with the OSHGAC to identify key issues, upcoming legislation, and develop action plans for dealing with the legislature and state government. The lobbyists work to promote passage of bills or amendments as directed by OSHGAC and its member organizations. Conversely, they work to oppose legislation detrimental to the interests of the member associations. Kelly also arranges meetings between key legislators and representatives of the OSHGAC member organizations.

The GPG also support the efforts of the GAC by assistance with composing white papers, public testimony and most importantly educating policy makers and legislators about issues important to our profession.  They distribute monthly legislative reports to the coalition, focusing on legislation that may affect the professions of audiology and speech/language pathology.  It would not be possible for a professional association to stay abreast of all the legislation that could impact the profession.  It is only with the help and support of GPG that we are able to avert legislation that would adversely affect our professions. 

What is Governmental Policy Group?
Click here

In the past few years, GAC has worked on some very important speech-language pathology and audiology issues and administrative changes: 

Speech issues:  GAC recently worked collaboratively with the Ohio Department of Education on developing a program to address the shortage of SLPs available to work in the schools.  That effort led to the introduction and passage of SB 143, legislation which created the SLP student permit program, which allows second year SLP master's candidates to "intern" in the school setting.  Following up on the passage SB 143, GAC worked with the Ohio Licensure Board to ensure that the administrative rules implementing the student permit program are properly drafted to work in the "real world."  GAC was also active in supporting a 6% increase in Ohio Medicaid reimbursement rates for speech-language pathology services, and we continue to advocate for an additional 12% increase in that Medicaid rate.  Finally, GAC has worked closely with the Ohio Department of Insurance to advocate for increased insurance coverage for speech-language pathology services related to developmental delay. 

Audiology: GAC was instrumental in the passage of legislation that changed the academic requirement for licensure from the Master’s degree to the Au.D..  Additionally they worked for nearly 1 ½ years with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) to permit approval of digital and digitally programmable hearing instruments for Medicaid consumers under the age of 21 and to improve the test battery required for these consumers. The GAC continues to work with the ODJFS to improve reimbursement rates for dispensing fees and to allow adult recipients of Medicaid services to be fit with digital hearing instruments.

Some of the grassroots efforts supported by OSHGAC include the annual legislative breakfast which has proven to be an effective forum for meeting and influencing your local legislators. Because of legislative term limits, there are frequently new legislators and/or committees to court and educate concerning hearing and speech/language issues. The OSHGAC encourages all members to develop relationships with your legislators. You may do so by simply scheduling an appointment to introduce yourself and discuss issues of concern for the profession.  Obviously the key is to elect legislators who are favorable to our position on key issues. Getting to know your state legislators is the only way to determine how they will respond when an issue critical to our profession arises.

Finally, members of OSLHA may bring any legislative, governmental or regulatory concern to the attention of the GAC representatives.  Remember, we represent you and need to have your input and concerns to serve you better. The OSLHA representative will then present the members concern to the GAC.  The GAC members will review the issue and decide whether to move forward or monitor the issue.  The GAC by-laws require a consensus of the member organizations to determine if an issue will be prioritized and acted upon by GAC.  Not all issues will rise to the level of action when first introduced.  We do ask however that our members only contact their GAC representatives and not pursue issues directly with our lobbyists at GPG.  Remember that GPG represents the GAC and does not directly represent OSLHA or individual members of our organization.  Should you have a concern you would like addressed, please contact one of the OSLHA GAC representatives via their email link or telephone number listed above.

Hopefully this information will help you understand the important relationship between OSLHA and the OSHGAC.  This coalition allows all professional associations on Ohio with interests relating to audiology and/or speech/language pathology to speak with one voice to legislators.  The OSHGAC and our lobbyists believe this has been critical in obtaining support for legislation favorable to our professions.  

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Websites: 
GAC Member Organizations

OAA:  http://www.ohio-academy-of-audiology.org/

OSLHA:  www.ohioslha.org

OSSPEAC:  www.osspeac.org

OCSHA:  no website

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