ASHA Hosts Congressional Briefing and Advocates for Better Coverage and Payment for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Services

May 22, 2026

ASHA continually leverages opportunities to effectively advocate for better coverage and payment for audiology and speech-language pathology services. An ASHA-commissioned poll found communication breakdowns present a formidable daily challenge for caregivers, raising concerns about the safety of adults with communication disorders. These findings provided a perfect opportunity to partner with Congress to sound the alarm about gaps in coverage and payment for those services and highlight their efficacy, particularly for people living with aphasia.

What Happened?

ASHA collaborated with the Bipartisan Unified Voices Caucus, a congressional panel established to advocate for individuals facing communication challenges, for a briefing to highlight the challenges facing people with aphasia, a communication disorder that can affect a person's ability to talk, understand, read, and write.

Attendees heard testimony from retired four-star Air Force General Michael Hayden, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, who emphasized that aphasia impacts his ability to communicate, but not his intellect, and that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) at the Stroke Comeback Center are helping him rebuild his communication skills.

General Hayden urged lawmakers to consider access to all for these vital services. "The Stroke Comeback Center is only 10 minutes away in northern Virginia. But what about Charlottesville? Or Norfolk? Or rural areas? What about the rest of the country?" he said.

Erin Adelekun, a patient advocate who suffered a stroke shortly after giving birth, shared how speech-language pathology services are enabling her to communicate more effectively and advocate for other stroke survivors.

"I was a mother… a woman with thoughts, ideas, humor, and dreams that were all stolen from me because I couldn't speak," Adelekun said. She also said her insurance coverage was severely lacking. "90 days of therapy? And I had good insurance. I was like 'what?'"

Anna Dickstein, an ASHA-certified SLP and brain injury expert who specializes in adult neurorehabilitation, explained the brain's neuroplasticity and emphasized how speech-language pathology services help people with aphasia. Dickstein helped Adelekun immediately following her stroke and in finding resources for sustained care.

Darlene Williamson, former president of the National Aphasia Association, highlighted that uninterrupted access to therapy services is key because they help the brain rebuild critical connections to improve speech and understanding.

Before and after the briefing, panelists and ASHA members joined with ASHA Advocacy staff to meet with lawmakers from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. We highlighted key ASHA priorities like eliminating an unfair penalty that lowers Medicare provider payments for speech-language pathology services, stopping additional Medicaid funding cuts and program changes, and reversing a Department of Education decision that will prevent CSD students from accessing federal loans to finance their degrees.

Congressional Reaction

The co-chairs of the congressional caucus, Reps. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) and Troy Carter (D-La.) underscored the need for access to therapy services.

Carter, whose mother was an SLP, said that for "far too many Americans living with this condition, access to speech-language pathology services that can help them recover, adapt, and reconnect, remains too far out of reach." Carter pledged to work on legislative solutions to address those gaps.

He added that ASHA is a "great association" that "does incredible work" and that he considers himself a partner in ASHA's advocacy efforts.
Cammack, departing from her prepared remarks, hugged Adelekun's mother, Maria, and noted that she co-founded the caucus to support people with communication disorders.

Congressional staffers in the room took notes and spoke with panelists following the briefing.

What's Next?

ASHA will continue urging Congress to provide better coverage and reimbursement of audiology and speech-language pathology services across federal programs and payers. Take action to support these efforts now!

Questions?

Contact ASHA's federal and political affairs team at [email protected].