Medicare coverage for audiology and speech-language pathology services delivered via telehealth should be made permanent. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) used authority provided by Congress to cover key audiology and speech-language pathology (SLP) telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and Congress has extended this telehealth authority through the end of 2024. 

In the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule for 2025, CMS declared its intention to “complete a comprehensive analysis of all provisional codes currently on the Medicare Telehealth Services List before determining which codes should be made permanent.” This regulatory process would go beyond the expiration date of current statutory telehealth authorities for audiologists and SLPs. It fails to comply with the telehealth approval process CMS has developed and ignores the research and evidence that supports continued coverage for audiology and speech-language pathology services. 

Therefore, it’s critical that Congress act now to ensure patients maintain access to the same level of telehealth services they have had since 2020. 

Permanent coverage of telehealth services will enhance access to hearing, balance, speech, language, swallowing, and cognition related health care services for those in rural and medically underserved areas.

Download the Issue Brief [PDF] to learn more.

Please complete the form to email your elected officials and ask them to cosponsor this legislation.

Questions? Contact Josh Krantz, ASHA's director of federal affairs, health care, at jkrantz@asha.org.  

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