TODAY'S BUZZ:

OSLHA 2013/14 Membership and Liabiliy Insurance Renewals are Taking Place NOW!
It is now time to renew your OSLHA membership for the 2013/14 Membership Year. You can quickly and easily complete the process online at:  http://www.ohioslha.org/m_join.htm.  Hardcopy application forms are available for printing online and you can take advantage of early renewal discounts before June 30th!  Liability insurance participation also expires June 30th and can easily be renewed right on your membership application form.  Click Here for insurance pricing details. If you recruited new OSLHA members during the 2012/13 year you should have received email notification of your recruitment credits and should include the listed redemption code on your 2013/14 renewal form to receive additional, exclusive discounts. 

New ASHA Website Being Created for Members to Send in Problems with Manual Medical Review (MMR) process for Medicare Part B claims:
ASHA is planning to establish a website for members to send in any problems they have had with the current Manual Medical Review (MMR) process for Medicare Part B claims.  ASHA plans to collect these issues and present them to both CMS and Congress.  OSLHA will alert you when the website is up and running and post the web address.    In the meantime, feel free to contact Carol Hofbauer, the Ohio SMAC rep., at chofbauer@laurelhealth.com if you have any questions concerning the MMR process.

ASHA Releases Agenda in Action 2012–2013:
Are you interested in learning more about ASHA’s advocacy efforts? If your answer is yes, there is information available for a new resource called "The Agenda in Action".  It is based on ASHA’s annual public policy agenda (PPA) and summarizes the outcomes of the Association’s advocacy efforts over the past year. The Agenda in Action, published annually by ASHA’s Government Relations and Public Policy (GRPP) Board, shows the connection between the public policy agenda and ASHA’s commitment to advocacy. Read More and Access the Agenda in Action.

Department of Education Invites Applications for FY 2013 i3 Grants:
The U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Office of Innovation and Improvement is inviting applications for new
awards for fiscal year (FY) 2013, for the Investing in Innovation Fund (i3), Scale-up grants and Validation grants.
Applications for both competitions became available on May 6, 2013; the deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply is May 23, 2013, and the deadline for Transmittal of Applications for both competitions is July 2, 2013. Apply Today!

Resources to Help Audiologists and SLPs Get Ready for ICD-10-CM:
The transition to ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification)
will occur in approximately a year and half. Will you be ready on October 1, 2014? Gain Insight about Resources that are Available to Assist You in Transitioning.

ED Announces Intent to Expand Agenda of Committee and Public Hearings on Higher Education Issues:
The Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education (ED), has announced additional topics for consideration for action by the next negotiated rulemaking committee for the Federal Student Aid Programs
authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The April 16, 2013, Federal
Register notice also announced three public hearings at which interested parties may comment on the new topics suggested by ED and suggest additional topics for consideration for action by the negotiated rulemaking committee. Written comments suggesting issues that should be considered for action by the committee must be received on or before May 30, 2013. Learn More...

Sequester Medicare Cuts Went Into Effect April 1st: 
Medicare Advantage, Part A and Part B providers should expect a 2% reduction in payment based on submitted claims for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries beginning April 1, 2013.  Learn More...

Phonological Memory Survey: 
The University of Alabama Intellectual Disabilities Lab would like to invite you to participate in their 10-state Speech-Language Pathology Survey. The purpose of the survey is to learn about the role of phonological memory in language therapy for clients with Down syndrome, specific language impairment, and autism spectrum disorders. We want to know the practices and opinions of SLPs who are working directly with clients in these groups.  If you have worked with any of these types of clients, please consider participating!  The survey takes about 10-15 minutes. Learn more about the commitment to participate.

Season 12 American Idol Contestant Lazaro Arbos speaks with Severe Stutter but Sings Without a Trace of It:
Read More About Lazaro's American Idol Experience and the Unusual Circumstances Surrounding His Hearing Device.

Phonological Memory in Language Therapy for Clients with Down Syndrome, Specific Language Impairment, and Autism Spectrum Disorder Survey:
The University of Alabama Intellectual Disabilities Lab would like to invite SLP's to participate in their 10-state Speech-Language Pathology Survey. The purpose of the survey is to learn about the role of phonological memory in language therapy for clients with Down syndrome, specific language impairment, and autism spectrum disorders. We want to know the practices and opinions of SLPs who are working directly with clients in these groups. If you have worked with any of these types of clients, please consider participating!
The survey takes about 10-15 minutes, and you can complete it online.  You will be prompted to
Read and “sign” the Informed Consent Form and then Complete the Survey.  Please direct any questions to the UA Intellectual Disabilities Lab at idlab@ua.edu or call 205.348.4253.

Preparing for Medicare Recovery Audits: 
ASHA has created two webpages to assist members in finding their Medicare Recovery Audit Contractors
(RACs) and understanding the audit process. Click Here for More Details and Webpage Information.

Support HB 109: A Consumer Protection Solution to Internet Hearing Aid Sales:
There is an ever-growing marketplace of internet hearing aid seller.  The internet companies, based outside of Ohio, sell these medical devides to Ohio consumers without having any direct contact with the customers. Given that hearing aids are medical devices for which appropriate evaluation and analysis is warranted, this remote and unregulated relationship carries the very real possibility of dangerous heathcare consequences. Learn More About Current Legislation Being Proposed to Protect your Hearing Aid Consumers!

Professional FAQ's Now Available to Assist You! 
The Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association is committed to ensuring that all people with speech, language, and hearing disorders receive services to help them communicate effectively. We are particularly focused on providing professionals in the Speech and Hearing fields with the resources and tools they need to effectively serve their customers. Therefore, a number of work setting-specific FAQ's have been created and may be used to educate new and existing employees, inform current Speech and Hearing students on the differences between work settings or as a resource to better inform decision-makers at your place of employment about topics of relevance in your particular work setting.

May was Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM)!
OSLHA wants to encourage you to participate in the May: Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM) for 2014.  Rally your colleagues, customers, neighbors or employers to coordinate or host a BHSM event or activity and then tell us about it!  We encourage you to share your creative “Celebration” ideas with us from 2013 or your plans for 2014 and we will promote your ideas to our members for implementation or collaboration. See What Others Have Done to Celebrate!   

eHearsay 2012:Telepractice is Available for .35 ASHA CEU's:
View the Table of Contents and Issue Details for a sneak peek or Log In as a Member to Participate Before June 30, 2013!

CMS Announces New Process for Part B Reviews; CGS Part A Probe
CMS has determined that the RAC’s will be reviewing the documentation for the ADR process for claims over the Part B $3700 threshold.  This information was discussed on the monthly SMAC conference call. ASHA, APTA and AOTA met with CMS this past Monday, April 1st.  CMS will be holding monthly meetings with representatives from all three therapy groups to get feedback about this process. Learn More...

A settlement is Agreed to By The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS):
Medicare will be prohibited from denying skilled therapy in most settings simply because there is a lack
of functional progress. A settlement agreed to by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
in October 2012, related to the elimination of the “Medicare Improvement Standard”, was approved by
a federal judge on January 24, 2013. By January 2014, CMS must revise its policy manuals to allow
coverage of therapy services that prevent deterioration. Additional Details are Available Here...

The Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, will be releasing the 2012-2013 Special Education Performance Profiles next week:
Information to access the Profile (a username and password) will be distributed through email to local education agency (LEA) Superintendents and Special Education Directors. It is important that the LEA access and review the information in the Profile in a timely manner as it may include findings of noncompliance which require correction within the timelines specified in the Profile. The Profile is based on 2011-2012 data and is for internal LEA use. The Profiles are not accessible to the public since the data is not masked.  If LEAs need assistance in understanding the Performance Profile, the regional State Support Teams (SSTs) are available to provide support. For a listing and contact information for the regional SSTs, visit the ODE website keyword search "State Support Teams".

Claims-Based Outcomes Reporting for Medicare Part B Therapy Services:
The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act (MCTRJCA) of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-96) mandated a claims-based data collection strategy for reporting patient condition and outcomes, "designed to assist in reforming the Medicare payment system for outpatient therapy services." Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have been exploring alternatives to therapy payment since the introduction of the therapy caps in 1997. Read On...

Medicare Home Health Agency Rules for 2013 Released:
For 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised the home health therapy reassessment schedule, updated payment rates, and implemented mandated unannounced survey visits. View Details...

PQRS Audiology Measures Finalized for 2013:
A meeting with CMS officials clarified the measures for audiologists to use for reporting in the Physician Quality Reporting System for receiving incentives and avoiding penalties.   Learn More...

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Releases the 2013 Outpatient Medicare Physician Fee Schedule:
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology services under Medicare Part B (outpatient) have reimbursement rates established by the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) regardless of provider setting, except for outpatient Audiology services provided in hospitals. Information is available on the MPFS for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists, including in-depth analysis of relevant policy changes and revisions to the fee schedule, Medicare Part B payment rules, geographic adjustment calculations, and new developments. The fee schedule is updated annually by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and can now be viewed online.

New Professionals Webpage Updated with New Intervention Corner Content: 
The field of Speech-Language Pathology is broad and allows for many varied opportunties.  Learn more about how a local SLP has used her knowledge in the field to serve in many different and exciting capacities.

The Council For Clinical Certification (CFCC) voted to approve changes to the Speech-Language Pathology Standards for Clinical Certification: 
The final version of the 2014 SLP Certification Standards along with a Side-by-Side comparison reflecting the current language, the revised language, and a description of the changes, are available on the ASHA website. 

ASHA Releases New Method of Evaluating School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists:
In an effort to improve upon current methods of evaluating school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs), the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has developed a new accountability measure, the Performance Assessment of Contributions and Effectiveness (PACE). View the press release and related resources.

The Ohio Statewide Assessment Program Rules Book (“The Rules Book”) has been Published:
Go to the ODE website, education.ohio.gov to view it. The Office for Exceptional Children's Optional Data Collecton tool for students wtih disabilities is also available online To review the tool visit the ODE website and search with keywords "data collection tools for students with disabilities". Additional resources have been made available.  View the public release.