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California Academy of Audiology
4640 Admiralty Way,
Suite 406
Marina del Rey CA 90292
Phone: (310) 821-6179
Fax: (310) 821-3298
Email us
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CAA Governmental Affairs/ Legislation Update
Your CAA Board and Legislative Committee
have been actively monitoring, providing
feedback, and serving as expert witnesses
for important legislative issues that
concern the profession of audiology:
Department of Healthcare Services/
Medi-Cal
Contracting for hearing aids
through bidding or negotiation process
Presented by a practitioner as a way to save money for
the State of California, this legislation would allow
trailer language to be added to the state budget and
allow Medi-Cal to enter into exclusive or non-exclusive
contracts based on bidding on negotiation for the purchase of
hearing aids. It is CAA’s position that bidding or negotiating
prices in order to fit patients with hearing aids simply adds
another layer to an already complicated process. The actual
savings in this new process is questionable as well. Will
this savings cost consumers appropriate care?
As there is no current mechanism for providers to be
paid for fi tting services alone, the risk of more providers leaving the Medi-Cal system is of great concern.
These changes will result in a lack of providers and a
lengthier wait time for Medi-Cal beneficiaries. CAA was
extremely vocal in its opposition to this legislation,
however it remained in the budget and was signed by
the governor. This directive is slated to be effective in July
of 2008. Rest assured that we will continue to work with
the Department of Health Care Services and the
legislature regarding this matter.
View CAA's
response to the DHCS request for proposals regarding the Hearing Aid
RFP
Download  response from CAA to Donna Martinez, Office of Medi-Cal Procurement, March 17, 2008.
Sunset of the Speech Language Pathology
and Audiology Board (SLPAB)
Finally, a recent development that has come about
is the impending, July 2008, sunset of the Speech
Language Pathology and Audiology Board (SLPAB).
Every few years state boards must undergo a
review process known as sunset review to
determine the need for continuation of
the board. The SLPAB was to have its
sunset review this year, however this
was delayed. SB 797 was introduced
in order to extend the sunset review
of the SLPAB because of this delay.
This is not uncommon. Unfortunately,
the legislative session ended without
SB 797 being taken up, and without
this extension bill being enacted the
SLPAB will sunset June 30, 2008. When
a board is sunsetted it reverts to a bureau.
The difference between a board and a bureau
is signifi cant for both the consumer and the
profession. While both boards and bureaus are made
up of appointees from the public and the profession,
a professional board has authority to enact rules
and regulations for consumer protection and for the
practice of the profession. A bureau has an advisory
committee which does not have this same authority.
The advisory committee can only make recommendations
with ultimate decision making vested in the
Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA). CAA will be
working with DCA, SLPAB, CSHA, and the legislature
in hopes of rectifying this matter and allowing the
SLPAB to continue to function for the protection of
consumers and our profession.
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UPDATE ALERT!
April 27, 2007
Direct Access Bill Introduced |
Summary:
The Academy's efforts on Capitol Hill have led to the introduction
of the "Medicare Hearing Health Care Enhancement Act of 2007"
(HR 1665 - Direct Access bill) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Sponsored by Representative Mike Ross (D-AR), this bipartisan
legislation would allow Medicare beneficiaries the option
of going directly to a qualified audiologist for hearing and
balance diagnostic tests. Currently, Medicare requires that
beneficiaries with hearing loss or balance disorders obtain
a physician referral before seeing an audiologist. Senator
Tim Johnson (D-SD) intends to introduce the bill in the Senate
when he returns to the office. We urge you to contact your
representative today and encourage them to sign on as a co-sponsor
for this bill.
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CAA urges all California Audiologists
to take action.
Click HERE
to sign a form letter to send to your representative. |
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| SB 557 |
The CAA Sponsored Legislation (Wiggins-D
Santa Rosa) -
Qualified Medical Examiner (QME)- Audiologists |
Summary:
This bill would add Audiologists to the list of medical specialists
that are qualified to be Medical Examiners in the State of
California. Audiologists would be able to serve as QMEs in
Workman's Compensation cases involving hearing loss.
STATUS:
Fall 2007:
This bill sponsored by CAA originally had a number of
opposition groups including the CMA. We are proud to
report its merits were successfully presented to the legislature.
CMA dropped its opposition and the approved bill
was sent on to the governor for signature. Unfortunately,
on the recommendation of the Department of Industrial
Relations, our governor vetoed the bill. While
disappointing, this veto will not dampen our
efforts. Successful lobbying has moved
this bill through the legislative process
and back to the governor’s desk for
further consideration. Special thanks to
Charley Fankhauser, Jody Winzelberg,
Alison Grimes and our Sacramento
Advocates for all their worthwhile
efforts. We look forward to revisiting
this issue in the future.
4/23 Passed Senate B&P Committee 7-1:
"Big victory this morning. Our bill went out 5-0 despite
CMA opposition. All members voted aye, Three Dems and two
Reps. Ours is the only surviving "scope of practice" bill
(from the perspective of the CMA) out of eight this year,
that is moving forward. Much work lies ahead. We do need to
make a better argument on the need for the bill from the standpoint
of whether there are, or expect to be, increasing claims involving
hearing loss."
-Barry Brokaw, Sacramento Advocates
4/25 Passed Senate Labor Committee
5-0 - This bill is only one of 8 "CMA identified
scope of practice bills" still alive.
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| AB 311 |
The Over the Counter (OTC) Hearing Aid Bill |
Summary:
Dymally (D-LA) sponsored by the CA Congress for the Elderly,
has been dropped by the author. CAA's lobbyists, Sacramento
Advocates, met with Assemblyman Dymally the week the bill
was introduced, in early February, and quietly expressed CAA's
concern regarding the bill and its negative impact on consumers.
We knew there would be other organizations who would also
oppose this bill we felt an immediate, professional approach
with a one on one with the author was more in keeping with
our desire to educate than the usual public letter of opposition.
Assemblyman Dymally is the Chairman of the Assembly Health
Committee, the Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus and
the Dean of the Assembly, and out of respect for him, we preferred
to discuss our concerns privately, rather than simply fire
off a letter of opposition. At the conclusion of the meeting,
Chairman Dymally, whose hearing is assisted by hearing aides,
indicated he would not proceed with the bill. Nice job by
Barry Brokaw and Jim Stassi at Sacramento Advocates, Inc.
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| AB 368 |
Hearing Aid Insurance Bill |
Summary:
CAA continues to work closely with Sen. Jack Scott (D-Pasadena),
on hearing-related issues. Senator Scott's has sponsored several
bills which would have ensured hearing aid insurance coverage
for the pediatric population. They have been opposed and defeated
by the insurance companies and their lobbying efforts. As
the author of legislation which bucked the "master plan" and
requested the legislation allowing doctoral degrees to be
issued by California State Universities his efforts sparked
the two new pending joint AuD programs. He remains concerned
about the status of our joint AuD programs and requests feedback
on the progress these two new proposed programs are making.
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Note: CAA
is supporting the new hearing aid insurance bill this year
(AB 368) authored by newly elected Wilmer Amina Carter (D-
Rialto) and will continue to work towards the passage of such
legislation. Click HERE
to view our letter of support.
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