Governmental Affairs

Texas Academy Governmental Affairs

Identify your federal Texas representatives and learn about pending federal legislation online.

Identify your State Representative and State Senator online: www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/

Texas Legislature Frequently Asked Questions

TAA Past President Kerry Ormson

1/19/2010—TAA Member and Past President, Kerry Ormson, Au.D., Re-Appointed to State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. More....

Direct Access Sees Movement in Health Care Reform

(Washington, DC – September 24, 2009) — The American Academy of Audiology is pleased to announce that the Medicare Hearing Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 3024) was offered during the House Energy and Commerce Committee debate yesterday. In an unprecedented occurrence for audiology, the legislation was introduced during the Committee's health care deliberations and will be offered to the House Committee on Rules for further consideration in the overall health care measure.

H.R. 3024 would increase access to hearing care services for Medicare beneficiaries by eliminating the need for patients to obtain a physician referral prior to visiting an audiologist for an evaluation. Direct access to audiologists is already afforded to patients under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP) and the Veterans Administration (VA). H.R. 3024 would standardize this federal policy for hearing health access to services.

"This is a very exciting time for our members and all of the patients we serve," said Kris English, PhD, President of the American Academy of Audiology. "Hearing loss is an ever-growing condition, and we are one step closer to removing the barriers to audiologic care for our Medicare beneficiaries."

H.R. 3024 is endorsed by virtually every national organization representing persons with hearing loss and disabilities, including the Hearing Loss Association of America, the National Association of the Deaf, and the American Association of People with Disabilities.

The Medicare Hearing Health Care Enhancement Act was introduced by Congressman Mike Ross (D-AR) on June 24, 2009, and currently has 21 cosponsors. Your help in increasing the number of cosponsors will send a clear message to Congress. Visit the Academy's Web site to see if your Member of Congress has signed on to support direct access to audiologists. If your representative is not among the current cosponsors, use the Academy's Legislative Action Center to ask him/her to support this important legislation.

To ensure that the voice of audiology continues to be heard on Capitol Hill, contribute to the American Academy of Audiology PAC today.

Virtual Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill—Friday, July 17, 2009

Ask your representatives to support H.R. 3024!

Congress is currently considering far-reaching health-care reform that stands to impact all health-care providers. In this critical time, it is imperative that the voice of audiology be represented.

Will you help? On July 17, 2009, you can provide direct support to the Board of Directors as they descend on Capitol Hill garnering support for H.R. 3024, the Medicare Hearing Health Care Enhancement Act of 2009 ("Direct Access"). Call or e-mail your member of Congress and ask him or her to support H.R. 3024.

To make our voice louder, the Academy challenges you to also enlist 7 of your friends and family to contact their representatives on 7/17/09! Concentrating efforts increases the impact of the message. Ask your patients, colleagues, friends, and family to do the same.

Find your member of Congress by accessing the Legislative Action Center. Within the Center, you can also find an editable form letter to send urging support for H.R. 3024, as well as contact information for your legislator. Feel free to express your support of this bill in your own words.

July 17, 2009: Take part in this monumental effort and ask members of Congress to support H.R. 3024, the Medicare Hearing Health Care Enhancement Act of 2009. You can make a difference!

American Academy of Audiology Announces Introduction of Direct Access Legislation

(Washington, DC – June 25, 2009) — The American Academy of Audiology is pleased to announce the introduction of H.R. 3024, the Medicare Hearing Health Care Enhancement Act of 2009 in the 111th Congress. This bill is identical to H.R. 1665 from last Congress and Congressman Mike Ross (D-AR) has taken the lead again this session, along with 13 original cosponsors. In the 110th Congress, H.R. 1665 garnered 108 cosponsors.

H.R. 3024 eliminates the need for Medicare patients to obtain a physician referral prior to visiting an audiologist for an evaluation. Currently our nation’s veterans, through the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA), can receive an audiological exam without first obtaining a physician referral. Federal employees and members of Congress also have direct access to an audiologist. This bill would afford Medicare patients the same direct access to an audiologist.

The Academy has been in dialogue with leadership from the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) regarding possible modifications to the direct access bill. While Congressman Ross has reintroduced the bill retaining the language from the previous Congress, Academy leadership is encouraged by the collaborative efforts of both groups. “We look forward to continued discussion with AAO-HNS on direct access and other relevant issues,” said M. Patrick Feeney, PhD, Academy president.

Contact your representative to ask for support for H.R. 3024 by accessing the Academy’s Legislative Action Center.

Last Congress, in addition to the American Academy of Audiology, the following organizations endorsed the Medicare Hearing Health Care Enhancement Act and the Academy is hopeful for their support again this session:

Academy of Audiology of Puerto Rico * Academy of Doctors of Audiology * Academy of Federal Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists * American Association of People with Disabilities * American Board of Audiology * American Speech-Language-Hearing Association * American Tinnitus Association * Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Loses * Association of VA Audiologists * California Academy of Audiology * Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders * Educational Audiology Association * Florida Academy of Audiology * Hearing Loss Association of America * Military Audiology Association * Minnesota Academy of Audiology * National Association of the Deaf * National Black Association for Speech, Language and Hearing * National Court Reporters Association * National Cued Speech Association * National Hearing Conservation Association * National Rural Health Association * Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology * Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. * Texas Academy of Audiology

Student Loan Forgiveness for Health Care Providers

Congressmen Bruce Braley (D-IA) and Zack Space (D-OH) have introduced H.R. 2891, the Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2009, that will create a new loan repayment program for health care providers pledging to work in areas designated to have a health professional shortage. The legislation includes speech-language pathologists and audiologists as professionals eligible for the loan repayment program. Please send a message to your U.S. Representative asking for their support of this legislation.

The program is similar to the National Health Service Corps and will require a provider to commit to working in a health professional shortage area for a minimum of two years in exchange for student loan repayment. The bill defers the parameters of the program, including amounts of loan replacement and placement to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Contact your Representative today and request that they co-sponsor this legislation. For additional information, contact Ingrida Lusis, ASHA's Director of Federal and Political Advocacy, at ilusis@asha.org or by calling 202-624-5951.

Hearing Aid Tax Credit in 2009/2010

The Hearing Aid Tax Credit has been reintroduced in BOTH the House of Representatives (H.R. 1646) and the Senate (S.1019)! It's now more critical than ever to write your Members of Congress and ask them to support this important legislation!

www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org/

Use the link on that page to Write Congress Now.

H.R. 1246: Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2009

For details please see govtrack.us

Governor Perry Congratulates Audiologists (2/19/2008)

Remember the PAC at Renewal Time!

With renewal season just around the corner, it is time to start thinking not only about renewing your Academy membership, but also about renewing your commitment to the continued success of the TAA PAC. Contributions to the PAC play a critical role in supporting policy goals important to audiologists and the practice of audiology through the support of candidates for elective office; to promote better understanding among elected officials of the unique and important role of audiology in the delivery of high quality health care to patients; and to assist audiologists and others in organizing themselves for effective political action.

With over 10,000 Academy members and growing, it is invaluable that the PAC echoes the strength and visibility of its membership. Making a contribution (of any size) online is the quickest and easiest way to show support for both your PAC and your profession.

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