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Update
AMA
Scope of Practice Data Series: Audiologists
February 17, 2010
Dear Colleagues,
As promised, ASHA wants to keep you updated regarding AMA's Scope of
Practice Data Series: Audiologists.
We have received a reply from the AMA in response to our letter
regarding the document.
[Download the AMA response
document from the CSHA Web site
HERE --PDF file]
We believe there is no value in providing additional examples to the AMA
of factual inaccuracies in its document. We've already provided examples
of inaccuracies and it's not in our interest to work with the AMA to
strengthen a document that is intended to be used to lobby against the
scope of practice of audiology.
We are continuing with an active process of challenging the AMA, but
doing it through a systematic and carefully planned approach in concert
with the Coalition for Patient Rights (CPR). We will keep you informed
of our efforts directly with AMA and through the CPR.
Sincerely,
Tommie L. Robinson, Jr.
2010 ASHA President
Access to Referenced Documents:
-
AMA Scope of Practice Data Series Publication: Audiologists
[Download
HERE -- 32MB PDF file]
-
AMA Response to AWEA Regarding Comments on Scope of Practice
Data Series Publication (January 19, 2010) [Download
HERE - PDF]
-
ASHA Response to the AMA
Regarding the Scope of Practice Data Series Publication (December
11, 2009) [Download
HERE - PDF]
-
Alert from ASHA Regarding
AMA's Draft Scope of Practice Data Series: Audiologists Document
(October 27, 2009) [Download
HERE - PDF]
Update On This Issue
We have had some questions regarding the status of AMA’s Scope of
Practice Data Series: Audiologists, so I wanted to provide everyone with
an update.
We understand that the AMA has created “issue briefs”
for some of their Scope of Practice documents for use by their members
at the state and local levels. To date, AMA has not made public any
issue briefs related to audiology, and we don’t know if any have been
developed. To counteract the information provided in the original AMA
Scope of Practice document, ASHA is creating materials for members to
use at the state and local levels. We also continue to work with the
Coalition for Patient Rights (CPR), an organization that ASHA helped
establish in 2006 that includes more than 35 organizations representing
more than one million nonphysician, health-care providers. The CPR has
discussed meeting with the AMA on this issue. While we and other members
of the CPR have reservations, we believe there is benefit to opening a
dialogue with the AMA to discuss areas of common interest and concern.
We are beginning to work on setting up such a meeting and will keep you
posted on the outcomes of our discussions with the AMA.
I also
wanted to update you about another issue of prime importance to
audiologists, namely, comprehensive Medicare coverage of audiology
services. As I’m sure you know, ASHA is strongly advocating for improved
public and private coverage and reimbursement policies for audiologists
across the age span. This includes preventive, diagnostic, and
habilitative and rehabilitative treatment services, and equipment.
However, currently there is direct-access legislation before Congress
that would create an audiology benefit that is strictly diagnostic in
nature. ASHA is very uncomfortable with this legislation and believes
the bill locks audiologists into a narrow diagnostic category that, if
passed, would be extremely difficult to amend or change. In our view, a
comprehensive Medicare audiologic benefit that includes both diagnostic
and rehabilitative services is in the best long-term interest of the
profession. This is a top advocacy priority for ASHA. We have prepared a
brief Q&A
(http://www.asha.org/aud/Comprehensive-Medicare-Coverage-of-Audiology-Services/)
that we hope will answer some of the questions you may have about this
important issue.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have
additional questions.
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