ASHA - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

06/26/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/26/2026 04:02

ASHA Advocate: June 26, 2026

Education Department Shifting Some Responsibility for Key Special Education Programs

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has announced it is shifting most of the programmatic functions of several education-related programs, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), over to other government agencies. ASHA has long advocated for preserving ED's central role in ensuring that every student has access to the education, services, and supports they need to succeed. As responsibilities are shifted across federal agencies, ASHA will continue to advocate for strong federal protections, clear guidance, and consistent enforcement of disability-related protections.

Recognize an Outstanding Advocacy Leader

ASHA-PAC is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Excellence in Advocacy Honor, which recognizes ASHA members who have made significant contributions to advancing audiology and speech-language pathology through political, professional, and grassroots advocacy. Two honorees will be selected-one for advocacy efforts at the national level and one for advocacy work at the state or local level. Self-nominations are encouraged. Nominations are open through July 30, 2026. Submit a nomination today to help recognize members who are making a difference for the professions and the people you serve.

The Domino Effect of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The federal government has made major changes to its funding allocations for states, including for education and health care. As a result, many states have dramatically slashed their Medicaid spending. This raises some key questions for Medicaid providers and recipients: Why are these cuts happening? How will they affect providers and patients? And what can advocates do to push back? Discover the answers to these questions.

ASHA Working for You

  • Protecting access to audiology and speech-language pathology services for vulnerable populations by opposing legislation that would allow federal agencies to unilaterally withhold or condition funding to states based on alleged improper payments.
  • Encouraging future advocates for the professions by providing a guest lecture to University of Utah audiology students on the role of government in audiologic practice.
  • Advancing policies that support access to care and a sustainable workforce by participating in the National Health Council Washington Representatives Summer Meeting to discuss federal issues affecting patients and the health care system.
  • Promoting the value of audiologists and SLPs in health care delivery by submitting comments on the proposed Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System rules, highlighting the professions' role in alternative payment models and the benefits of communication access.
  • Supporting innovative care models by participating in a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation convening on accountable care for complex populations.
  • Protecting high-quality services and appropriate use of support personnel by providing input to the Oklahoma Department of Education on speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) scope of practice and supervision requirements.
  • Strengthening professional standards for SLPAs by submitting comment letters to the Alabama licensing board and Department of Education recommending updates to supervision, title protection, and scope of practice requirements.
  • Supporting equitable compensation for school-based audiologists and SLPs by urging Delaware lawmakers [PDF] to provide audiologists and SLPs the same 12% salary supplement proposed for nationally certified teachers and mobilizing member advocacy in partnership with the Delaware Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Find more comments and testimony letters on ASHA's website.

Spotlight

Over 800 SLPs joined ASHA Advocacy staff and members of ASHA's Health Care Economics Committee for a webinar to learn more about the upcoming changes to CPT codes for SLPs. A recording will be available on ASHA Stream next week, and more information is available on ASHA's website.

Resource Highlight

Want to check your voter registration status, research your candidates, and find your election dates to prepare for the primaries and midterm elections? Check out ASHA's Get Out the Vote resources.

ASHA - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association published this content on June 26, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 26, 2026 at 10:03 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]