(ROCKVILLE, MD-May 28, 2004) The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) applauds the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for its decision to ensure that Medicaid audiology services are provided or are under the direction of qualified audiologists, and to reaffirm recognition of the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) as the basis for audiologist qualifications. The final rule mirrors the major policy issues advocated by ASHA that urged recognition of audiology as a separate profession, strengthening state licensure requirements to reflect the use of the CCC-A, and ensuring better supervision of audiology services by audiologists.
"By maintaining the CCC-A as the basis for state licensing standards, CMS has upheld the rigorous standards developed by audiologists for audiologists," said Larry Higdon, audiologist and president of ASHA. "This is a victory for the thousands of audiologists who worked to earn the CCC-A, and for the patients that benefit from their high level of professional preparation and expertise."
The rule recognizes audiology as a separate profession under the Medicaid program, and will base Medicaid provider qualifications on state licensure, provided that the state licensure standards meet or exceed the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) or the Medicare definition of audiologists (1993 CCC-A) standards. Audiologists who reside in states without licensure; states that have lesser licensure standards; or states that exempt audiologists from licensure by institution or setting (such as schools) will also be required to document that they have the CCC-A or meet the Medicare statutory standards to qualify for Medicaid payment.
In comments made in the final rule, CMS states that "Federal and private deeming agencies have recognized the CCC-A as a quality credentialing program for over 30 years. Thus, Medicare and Medicaid regulations governing speech, language and hearing services have historically placed reliance on the knowledge and skills inherent with ASHA certification."
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 115,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech, language and swallowing problems.
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