Division for Legislative & Regulatory Affairs

Division for Legislative & Regulatory Affairs

Kim Pritikin - Vice President

Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Committee

Billing & Reimbursement Committee

Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Committee

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This committee works with members of the speech-language pathology and audiology professions in Illinois to advocate on behalf of the clients in need of services. Included in these efforts are working with legislators and lobbyists to establish and uphold the licensure act, monitor impending legislation that impacts the professions and clients, and communicate potential and actual changes to regulations that will impact the areas of speech-language pathology and audiology.

  • Kim Pritikin, Chair

  • Heather J. Driscoll

  • Corinne M. Stewart

  • Karen Cannon-Janettas

  • Laura A. Wilber

  • Carrie Kerr

  • Paula Hamilton

  • Janet Olson

  • Erik Johnson

  • Carol Szymanski

  • Jennine Harvey-Northrop

  • Amy Brummel

Goals:

  • Focus Area: Advocacy: Engage in legislative advocacy efforts to support professionals and consumers. 

  • Focus Area – Legislation and Regulation: Advance, monitor, and shape legislation and regulations that impact our profession and constituencies.

  • Focus Area- Membership: Grow member’s awareness of and active participation in ISHA’s legislative and regulatory affairs efforts.

  • Focus Area- Finance: Secure external funding for advocacy efforts.

Indicator of Success:

  • Coordinate with the Student Involvement committee on 2026 student advocacy event.

  • Explore resubmitting Interstate Compact legislation for 2026 legislative session.

  • Partner with the Billing and Reimbursement Committee and the SLP, PT, and OT Medicaid Coalition to advocate for increased reimbursement rates.

  • Partner with the Billing and Reimbursement Committee and the Change and Impact national advocacy group to promote increased reimbursement rates in Illinois.

  • Attend meetings with ISBE to discuss ways to remove barriers to a SLP professional educator license for new graduates.

  • Review proposed legislation at the February Executive Board Meeting with ISHA Lobbyist

  • Solicit feedback on proposed 2026 legislation from ISHA membership via a legislative survey in February of 2026.

  • Create an ISHA Voice item annually.

  • The legislative pairing project members will contact their legislators once a year.

  • Identify a committee member responsible for social media.

Billing & Reimbursement Committee

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The purpose of the Billing and Reimbursement Committee is to address the specific concerns and issues related to Medicare, Medicaid, private health plans and coding for reimbursement, encountered by ISHA members as they deliver services across settings.  The Billing and Reimbursement Committee will address advocacy of the professions in terms of reimbursement, including the value of a procedure.

  • Stefanie O'Donnell, Co-Chair
  • Susannah York, Co-Chair
  • Kristin Chmela
  • Kim Pritikin
  • Valerie Brosius
  • Danila McAsey
  • Jordan Bowman
  • Tricia Larikin
  • Lacey Peters
  • Jessica Wacker
  • Elizabeth Nielsen
  • Heidi Verticchio
  • Eileen Brann
  • Candice Grudowski

  • Focus area- Membership Recruitment and Retention: Maintain an active committee inviting and recruiting members, including speech pathology and audiology students, such that the committee consists of at least 10 members by Convention, February 2026.

  • Focus area- Continuing Education/Professional Development: Propose topics to provide continuing education sessions at the February 2026 Convention targeting reimbursement, coding, Medicare and Medicaid.

  • Focus area- Communication, Advocacy, and Quality of Service: Provide information to ISHA members on billing, coding, and reimbursement/appeal issues via newsletter, website, and/or social media at least 3 times per year and develop a communication plan for informing the membership of the purpose and ongoing work of the committee via newsletter submissions and on-line posts.

  • Focus area- Advocacy and Communication: Communicate at least annually with ISHA STAR, SEAL and StAMP regarding billing, reimbursement, advocacy efforts, and legislative issues.