ISHA Legislative Accomplishments

Summary of ISHA Legislative Activities

• 2022 -The telehealth bill received final approval Monday, March 7, with both chambers supporting the bill unanimously. It now goes to the Governor for action, where he is expected to sign the bill into law. Please be aware that SLPAs, students and CFs are not allowed to provide telehealth services until July 1 provided the Governor signs the bill.
• 2022 – Legislative Wins Update – 1/19/22
  SB 284 – Telehealth Matters, sponsored by Senator Charbonneau, was heard in committee this morning. Dr. Georgia Malandraki, Co-Chair of ISHA’s Telehealth Taskforce and Purdue Associate Professor, Miram Dant, ISHA Lobbyist, and Dr. Jeanne McMillan, ISHA President and Ball State Clinical Assistant Professor, provided testimony to support the inclusion of students and SLPAs in the language and to emphasize the importance of adding Clinical Fellows to those that can use telehealth in service delivery. SB 284 passed out of committee with the inclusion of students, SLPAs and CFs!

  SB 36 – ASLP-IC (Interstate Compact)- Miriam Dant and Jeanne McMillan provided testimony on the importance of this bill on 1/12/22. The bill was voted on today in committee and passed, 9-0!

  ISHA advocacy is strong!

• 2021 – Successfully lobbied to prevent re-authorization of Emergency Permits for Communication Disorders.
• 2021 – Assisted successful efforts to create separate committee under Medical Licensing Board for Behavior Analysts.
• 2021 – Assisted successful efforts to create telehealth authority for SLPs and AUDs.
• 2020 – Assisted successful efforts to establish youth helmet safety programs.
• 2020 – Assisted successful efforts to improve First Steps services.
• 2019 – Successfully lobbied to sunset Emergency Communication Disorder Permits in schools after 2 years.
• 2019 – Assisted successful efforts to add ANSI standards to audio frequency induction loop systems for telecoils.
• 2019 – Successfully lobbied to prevent deregulation of Hearing Aid Dealers.
• 2019 – Successfully lobbied to prevent deregulation of hearing aid fitting.
• 2019 – Assisted successful efforts to add notice of parental choice and definition of amplification to new Deaf & Hard of Hearing services program.
• 2018 – Assisted successful efforts to establish option of salary supplements for special education teachers.
• 2018 – Successfully lobbied to restore supervision of students fitting hearing aids.
• 2017 – Assisted successful changes to Hearing Aid Assistance Program to add children age 3-7 to eligibility, remove requirement to use other reimbursement, and increase reimbursement from $1500 to $2000 per hearing aid.
• 2017 – Assisted successful efforts to allow all provider groups to apply to OMPP for telemedicine reimbursement.
• 2017 – Assisted successful repeal of Jobs Creation Committee that proposed deregulation of hearing aid dealers.
• 2017 – Assisted successful efforts to increase Developmental Delay designation potential from age 5 to 9.
• 2016 – Assisted successful efforts to establish scholarship program for new teachers.
• 2016 – Unsuccessfully fought for salary supplements for SLPs in schools.
• 2015 – Helped obtain funding for hearing aids for children.
• 2015 – Unsuccessfully fought for salary supplements for SLPs in schools.
• 2015 – Helped obtain prohibition on unlicensed health care providers being placed on new pilot registry that provides no state oversight.
• 2014 – Helped obtain prohibition on sale of hearing aids without fitting.
• 2013 – Obtained requirements for education and training when OTs perform dysphagia therapy.
• 2013 – Successfully opposed efforts by music therapists to create licensure enabling speech therapy.
• 2012 – Provided information to ISHA members on legislative efforts to establish Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education.
• 2012 – Opposed unsuccessful efforts to deregulate hearing aid dealers.
• 2011 – Opposed unsuccessful efforts to permit OTs to perform dysphagia therapy.
• 2010 – Successfully opposed combining hearing aid dealer licensing with SLP/AUD licensing.
• 2009 – Assisted successful efforts to establish program to provide hearing aids for children.
• 2008 – Assisted unsuccessful efforts to obtain funding for graduate SLP program in Ft. Wayne.
• 2008 – Supported upgrade of regulation for OTs from certification to licensure.
• 2007 – Obtained repeal of Restricted Test List that would have prevented SLPs from using many diagnostic testing instruments.
• 2007 – Obtained standards for Emergency Permits in schools.
• 2006 – Obtained standardization of CE requirements for teacher licenses.
• 2005 – Maintained Master’s level requirement for SLPs as part of updates to SLP/AUD practice act.
• 2005 – Obtained education and training requirements for support personnel.