Access to audiology and speech-language pathology services across all settings for Medicaid beneficiaries is critical and relies on funding from both the state and federal government. However, legislators in Congress are currently considering ways to slash federal Medicaid funding through per capita caps, impose work requirements for Medicaid programs, and enact other limiting policies. This will create barriers to health care for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Medicaid covers more than 72 million people in the United States , nearly 40 million of whom are children. Cuts to this program will adversely impact access to audiology and speech-language pathology services for the vulnerable populations who rely on Medicaid.

Use this form to call your legislators. The script provided can help guide your call. See below if you would like more information to prepare for your call(s).

 What to Expect When You Call:

• Use the form to select which legislator's office you'd like to call.

• Your legislator's staff member (or intern) will likely answer. You should share your name, where you live, and what you'd like to say about Medicaid.

• When possible, customize your message with locally-relevant information. Help them understand how this would impact your community.

• You may not get an answer and instead be routed to voicemail. Leave a message and if you're able try again in an hour or two, or the next day.

Information and Resources

Congress should not reduce Medicaid funding, implement Medicaid work requirements, or enact other proposals like per capita caps that tie the amount of federal Medicaid spending to a factor that does not adequately account for growth. These changes risk reducing access to medically necessary audiology and speech-language pathology services. Instead, Congress should support policies that improve health outcomes, preserve access to care, and reduce costs.

Cutting funding to this vital safety net program is not the solution.

School-based audiologists and SLPs deliver critical speech, language, hearing, and other services and supports under IDEA to Medicaid-enrolled children every day. These funds help ensure those services are delivered as required by law. Medicaid is the third or fourth largest funding source for schools, depending on the state. Schools will be forced to make difficult choices if another critical source of funding is lost to Medicaid cuts.

ASHA’s health care-based members deliver services to Medicaid-enrolled individuals in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, outpatient, and home settings. Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), many of which our members provide, are optional services that states choose to fund through Medicaid. If states face budget crunches resulting from lower federal funding, these services will likely be among the first cut.

Medicaid work requirements do not work to save money.

Adding work requirements as a condition of Medicaid coverage would create unnecessary administrative hurdles and reduce access to health care for low-income individuals, including those with disabilities. According to a 2023 estimate from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), implementing a Medicaid work requirement would put millions at risk of losing coverage. CBPP also reports that since Georgia installed its current work requirements program under a waiver, it’s among the slowest states to process Medicaid applications and the program has cost about $13,360 per enrollee in combined state and federal Medicaid spending through the end of the first year. That’s significantly more than the $2,490 per enrollee the program was initially estimated to cost in the first year.

Looking for more information? Check out the recording of ASHA Advocacy's webinar "Proposed Medicaid Funding Changes Ahead: What Audiologists and SLPs Need to Know" and peruse our list of resources.

Would you rather send a letter? Use this campaign to send letters to your legislators on this same issue!

Questions? Contact Josh Krantz, ASHA's director of federal affairs, health care, at jkrantz@asha.org, or Caroline Bergner, ASHA's director, health care policy, Medicaid, at cbergner@asha.org.

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