CAA Legislative Update

State Treasurer Bill Lockyer and CA Department of Finance Director Mike Genest announced on 3/27/2009 that California will only receive $8.17 billion from the Obama federal stimulus budget relief monies, less than the $10 billion that was expected or hoped for.

Because the funding has fallen short, the language in the February state budget deal eliminating all the Medi-Cal optional programs (including adult audiology services), will take effect June 1, 2010.

Also part of this deal, the state personal income tax increase will also go up from .125% to .25% for 2009 and 2010.

(Posted 04/03/2009)

Elimination of Dual Licensure

Existing law, the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Licensure Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of audiologists and defines the practice of audiology. Existing law also provides for the licensure and regulation of hearing aid dispensers, who fit or sell hearing aids, by the Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau. Existing law exempts audiologists and individuals supervised by audiologists from the hearing aid dispenser licensure requirement if those persons do not directly or indirectly engage in the sale or offering for sale of hearing aids.

This bill would define the practice of audiology to include the selling of hearing aids and would also exempt audiologists and individuals supervised by audiologists from the hearing aid dispenser licensure requirements.

Download AB1535. (Posted 3/1/2009)

California State Budget and Medi-Cal

In response to members' questions, the California state budget, as signed, calls for the elimination of certain Medi-Cal “optional benefits” within 90 days of passage. Thus, by July 1, 2010, these optional benefits will be eliminated for adults 21 years of age or older, including individuals with developmental disabilities.   The optional benefits include:

• Audiology services
• Speech-Language Pathology services
• Adult Dental services
• Optometry services
• Optician and Optical Laboratory services
• Acupuncture services
• Podiatry services
• Chiropractor services
• Psychology services
• incontinence creams and washes

All of these services are provided at the state's option and are not federally required, but are federally reimbursed. The Obama stimulus package provides additional funds to California for Medi-Cal costs.  There is language in the California budget bills to allow the optional benefits programs to carry forward upon receipt of the federal monies. Therefore, stay tuned; hopefully the elimination of benefits will never take effect. (Posted 3/1/2009, updated 7/16/2009)

Department of Healthcare Services/ Medi-Cal
Contracting for hearing aids through bidding or negotiation process

Presented by a practitioner as a way to save money for the State of California, this legislation would allow trailer language to be added to the state budget and allow Medi-Cal to enter into exclusive or non-exclusive contracts based on bidding on negotiation for the purchase of hearing aids. It is CAA’s position that bidding or negotiating prices in order to fit patients with hearing aids simply adds another layer to an already complicated process. The actual savings in this new process is questionable as well. Will this savings cost consumers appropriate care? As there is no current mechanism for providers to be paid for fi tting services alone, the risk of more providers leaving the Medi-Cal system is of great concern.

These changes will result in a lack of providers and a lengthier wait time for Medi-Cal beneficiaries. CAA was extremely vocal in its opposition to this legislation, however it remained in the budget and was signed by the governor. This directive is slated to be effective in July of 2008. Rest assured that we will continue to work with the Department of Health Care Services and the legislature regarding this matter.

View CAA's response to the DHCS request for proposals regarding the Hearing Aid RFP

Download response from CAA to Donna Martinez, Office of Medi-Cal Procurement, March 17, 2008.

Sunset of the Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Board (SLPAB)

Finally, a recent development that has come about is the impending, July 2008, sunset of the Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Board (SLPAB). Every few years state boards must undergo a review process known as sunset review to determine the need for continuation of the board. The SLPAB was to have its sunset review this year, however this was delayed. SB 797 was introduced in order to extend the sunset review of the SLPAB because of this delay. This is not uncommon. Unfortunately, the legislative session ended without SB 797 being taken up, and without this extension bill being enacted the SLPAB will sunset June 30, 2008. When a board is sunsetted it reverts to a bureau. The difference between a board and a bureau is signifi cant for both the consumer and the profession. While both boards and bureaus are made up of appointees from the public and the profession, a professional board has authority to enact rules and regulations for consumer protection and for the practice of the profession. A bureau has an advisory committee which does not have this same authority. The advisory committee can only make recommendations with ultimate decision making vested in the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA). CAA will be working with DCA, SLPAB, CSHA, and the legislature in hopes of rectifying this matter and allowing the SLPAB to continue to function for the protection of consumers and our profession.