By: Caitlin Perryman, MS, CCC-SLP, TSHA STAR

The current position of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) State Advocate for Reimbursement (STAR) is held by Caitlin Perryman, MS, CCC-SLP. The STAR represents Texas SLPs in a group that consists of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)-member audiologists and speech-language pathologists who advocate locally with legislators, state insurance commissioners, health plans, unions, and employers on matters related to Medicaid and private health plan reimbursement.

The STAR Network was established in 2003 as part of ASHA’s Focused Initiative on Health Care Reimbursement. Since that time, STAR representatives have played a critical role in advocating for consistent coverage and equitable reimbursement by private payers for audiology and speech-language pathology services. In 2011, Medicaid was added as a primary focus for the STARs. Through the support of state speech-language-hearing associations and ASHA, STARs seek ongoing opportunities to enhance knowledge of private health plans and Medicaid reimbursement issues. The STAR network’s goal is to influence priority issues of importance to the professionals they represent.

The mission of the STAR network is to advocate for consistent coverage and equitable reimbursement by private payers and Medicaid for audiology and speech-language pathology services. Roles of the STAR include sharing information across states as well as between ASHA and the STAR network as well as serving as a conduit to TSHA for all information related to ASHA’s work on health care reimbursement, especially as it relates to private health plans and Medicaid. STARs also promote the importance of and need for comprehensive coverage of and equitable reimbursement for audiology and speech-language pathology services to legislators, state agencies, consumers, health plans, and related professionals and also advocate for understanding of education of reimbursement within the professions.