The State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARs) are ASHA-member audiologists and speech-language pathologists who advocate in their states for improved healthcare coverage and reasonable reimbursement. Their targets are key decision-makers in private corporations, public agencies, and the local legislature. Examples are health care insurance executives, benefits administrators, state insurance department officials, and state congress members. STARs create advocacy strategies and share skills with the state speech-language-hearing associations that appoint them.

STARs form a true network. They link states together and to ASHA through monthly conference calls, a STARs-only e-mail discussion group, and periodic meetings. STARs are individuals who:

• are proactive
• will eagerly assist colleagues and others with advice and information
• can help seek solutions when members face challenges to their economic viability
• must count on their colleagues (you) to help them effectuate positive changes in private health insurance and Medicaid