Legislation

SCSHA Legislative Contact Information

Legislatve Alert

Posted 9/30/2011

S.C. State Department of Education’s (SDE) Speech-Language Taskforce - Update

SCSHA has been collaborating with the S.C. State Department of Education’s (SDE) Speech-Language Taskforce since March 2011 to update the speech-language regulations.  This taskforce included SDE officials, special education administrators, SLTs, SLPs, a parent, select SCSHA board members and a former superintendent.  The taskforce has met 1-2 times per month since March.  As a result of these meetings the following proposal will be presented to the SDE Board in October 2011 for consideration.

The proposed speech-language regulation includes 3-tiers.  Tier I will include bachelor level professionals that will receive supervision as outlined in the SDE Guidelines document, which will be written.   As you may know, the old regulations did not include bachelor level speech-language therapists.  The taskforce considered many current issues in school-based speech-language pathology nation-wide.  In several states, there has been encroachment on our profession. Namely, state departments of education creating a new certification that included individuals without any training in the area of speech-language pathology or communication sciences and disorders performing tasks (i.e.: language and literacy therapy) that are typically conducted by speech-language pathologists/ speech-language therapists. Additionally, ASHA has instituted a new program to include speech-language therapist, which emphasizes adequate support via supervision for speech-language therapist to facilitate the best evidence-based practice in our profession.  The taskforce sought to be forward thinkers by including the tier with speech-language therapist in South Carolina public schools.   After all, speech-language therapists are already working in the public schools.  Many individuals have received supervision over the years to improve their skills and abilities.  Therefore, why not formalize this process by adding it to the new speech-language regulation.   Individuals that have a master’s degree in an area other than speech-language pathology will be included in Tier I.  However, their pay will not be affected because they have earned a master’s degree in another discipline.

Tier II includes individuals with a master’s degree in speech-language pathology that have yet to obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence.  This tier will also include individuals completing their Clinical Fellowship.  Upon completion of the Clinical Fellowship individuals can apply for a certificate upgrade to Tier III.

Tier III includes individuals with a master’s degree and a Certification of Clinical Competence. 

SCSHA is seeking your support of these regulations through a grassroots effort.  Please schedule appointments with your local superintendent or school board members to solicit letters or emails supporting this regulation.  Today’s correspondence serves as talking points for promoting the new speech-language regulation.  Attached is a list of superintendents and their contact information.  We encourage you to assist us in this effort as we are no better than the collective voice of our membership.  Send letters to:

Jay W. Ragley
Legislative and Public Affairs
South Carolina Department of Education
c/o Dr. Mick Zais, State Superintendent
1429 Senate Street
Columbia, SC  29201
Ragley@ed.sc.gov

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at scsha@scsha.com.

Sincerely,
SCSHA’s Executive Board

Posted 6/13/2011

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) just released the information below to Heather Smith of Capitol Consultants, which provides lobbying services for SCSHA.

"In regards to the public notice and School Based PT, OT, and ST services, the schools are not subject to the additional 7% reduction outlined in the Public Notice if you are providing and billing for the services under the LEAs provider number.  If the services are being contracted out to a private provider and they are billing under their own billing information, then the private provider will receive the additional 7% reduction."

SCSHA strives to provide accurate information in a timely manner to our members.   HHS is working with us in an effort to keep SCSHA members informed as new information comes available.

Thank you,
SCSHA's Executive Board

Posted June 6, 2011

This correspondence is a response to member concerns about the frequency of therapy being authorized by Medicaid under EPSDT as well as comments made by Medicaid staff regarding the frequency of therapy. 

On March 30th, SCSHA met with Deputy Director Melanie “BZ” Giese, Diane McLeod, Chris Lykes and DHHS attorney, Deirdra Singleton to discuss ideas on how to move forward given the current budget deficit, including any ideas that could help sustain the system for years to come. To prepare for this meeting, member input was solicited at the private practice caucus at the 2011 SCSHA convention in February.

The primary goal for this meeting was to discuss the proposed 3% rate reduction and the probability of future rate reductions in reimbursement for private rehabilitation speech and language services during the 2011-2012 budget year.  Discussion also focused on maintaining the current combined cap of 75 therapy visits, without the need for further reductions in provider visits or elimination of these services in their entirety due to the budget deficit.

Within this collaboration, the topic of alternate service delivery models specific to the frequency of recommended therapy was discussed. For some time now, HHS has been concerned about over-utilization of the Medicaid system by providers who consistently and routinely recommend 8-12 units of therapy per week (2-3 hours of therapy per week) for all patients they serve, with little or no change in the recommended frequency of therapy over time. SCSHA acknowledged this concern, knowing there is little consensus among providers on this topic and even less related research and evidence to rely upon. SCSHA did not make any official recommendations to DHHS on frequency of therapy. However, with our current economic status and the significant, on-going changes in health care policy, the need for professional self-scrutiny when making recommendations regarding frequency of therapy seems timely and appropriate.

Nationally, South Carolina’s Medicaid reimbursement rate is far above other states and many states do not reimburse for private speech and language services outside of cases that are reviewed through the EPSTD process.  In fact, many states continue to have rates of $40 per hour for individual therapy.  As we have expected moving into a new fiscal year, the SCSHA Board received notification today that DHHS will be announcing another round of Medicaid cuts, projected at 7%, in provider reimbursement rates beginning July 1st, 2011.  The table below demonstrates recent rate increases and decreases in Medicaid Reimbursement for Private Speech and Language Rehabilitation Services over the last several years.  Even after our state’s recent 3% cut and the projected 7% cut in private rehabilitation by DHHS, our reimbursement rates continue to be among the highest in the nation.

SCSHA understands that the recent changes in therapy caps and reimbursement rates, as well as the transition to an MCO model, have been and will continue to be difficult for our members working in the private sector. As an association, SCSHA is committed to continuing to work closely and professionally with both DHHS and ASHA to assure that reimbursement remains intact for speech and language services through the South Carolina Medicaid Program.  As we work together with DHHS to maintain services, we strongly urge members to continue to interact and converse positively with DHHS personnel in order to maintain a good working relationship with this agency. 

The SCSHA Board will continue to update members on any information received from our national organization, our Lobby Team and DHHS related to our efforts to preserve reimbursement for private rehabilitation services and uphold our association’s mission to advocate for the highest quality services for our consumers provided by the highest qualified provider.

SCSHA Executive Board

Posted 2/14/2011

SCSHA wanted to let you know that Senator Fair introduced our Senate Resolution last week and Representative Murell Smith introduced our House Resolution the week prior.  These Resolutions, found below, recognize speech-language pathologists with their Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) as the highest qualified provider of speech and language services in the South Carolina public schools. The Resolutions have been adopted in the Senate and the House and will be sent to State Superintendent of Education Mitchell M. Zais. 

A SENATE RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED NATI ONAL CERTIFICATION FROM THE AMERICAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION AND WORK IN SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, AND TO COMMEND THEIR SKILL AND CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE CHILDREN OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, the citizens of South Carolina place a high value on one of our greatest treasures, the educational development of our children, and celebrate the speech-language pathologists who help us guard that treasure; and

Whereas, speech-language pathologists employed in the public schools of this state help children who cannot produce speech sounds or cannot produce them clearly, have problems understanding and producing language, and have cognitive communication impairments, developmental delays or disorders, learning disabilities, mental disabilities, hearing loss, or emotional problems; and

Whereas, speech therapy helps children learn to communicate effectively with others and learn to solve problems and make decisions independently. In elementary school, children develop language and learn to read and write. The ability of a child to learn relies on his ability to communicate and interact with adults and his peers, and a communication disorder also may result in delays in other areas of his development. A child may be very bright, but if he is unable to express himself correctly, his learning process can be affected negatively; and

Whereas, communication with peers and educators is an essential part of a fulfilling educational experience, and children who are able to overcome communication disorders consequently feel a greater sense of pride and confidence; and

Whereas, certified speech-language pathologists who receive and maintain a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association possess the highest qualifications for a speech provider in our public schools, and the citizens of the Palmetto State are extremely fortunate to have specialists of this impressive caliber helping our children; and

Whereas, the Senate salutes all members of the profession of speech-language pathology in this state, and expresses its deepest gratitude for their caring and professional service to the citizens of South Carolina . Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the Senate of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize and honor those who have received national certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and work in South Carolina public schools as speech-language pathologists, and commend their skill and contributions toward improving the quality of life for the children of South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to State Superintendent of Education Mitchell M. Zais.
-

A HOUSE RESOLUTION

Legislative Updates from the SCSHA Lobbyist

Legislative Contact Information

For more information, you may contact:

VP Governmental Affairs
Angie Neal
ajneal@greenville.k12.sc.us