Audiologists and SLPs are facing unsustainable declines in Medicare Part B payment rates due to a variety of arbitrary cuts that Congress and regulators have put into place over the years. In March 2024, Congress reduced from 3.4% to 1.7% a cut to Medicare payments related to changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) conversion factor (CF). However, the continued cumulative impact of multiple reductions to Medicare provider payments—stemming from a budget neutrality requirement in the MPFS, congressionally-implemented budget control mechanisms, and a lack of inflationary updates—limits access for beneficiaries, ultimately resulting in higher health care costs. Congress must protect beneficiary access to essential audiology and speech-language pathology services by stabilizing Medicare payment rates in the short-term and passing sustainable long-term reforms to the Medicare Part B payment system. 

Download the issue brief [PDF] to learn more about this legislation.

Learn more about ASHA’s advocacy efforts to stop Medicare cuts.

Please complete the form to email your members of Congress and ask them to protect access to audiology and speech-language pathology services by ensuring adequate payments and stopping future cuts.

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