2016 Annual Reports

EB Office: Advocacy
 
Vice-President: Kelli Pierce MA, CCC/SLP
 

1. Primary Accomplishments/Legislation in the year 2015-2016 :

• SB 655 – ABA licensure bill
  • Draft 2 proposed by Senator Warren May 2015
  • MSHA representatives (Julie Pratt & Kelli Pierce) attended workgroup 5/20/15 to discuss requested changes with various interested parties
  • Draft 3 proposed 2016; letter provided again with MSHA’s requested changes
    • Strong communication and collaboration with the Tri-Alliance on this issue
  • CURRENT STATUS: no movement on this bill at this time
• SLP General Rules – Updated
  • Submitted response from MSHA re: changes in rules
  • Reached out to ASHA for response (which was provided)
  • Rules/changes went into effect in March 2016
  • CURRENT STATUS: gathering information and clarification from lobbyist re: timing, when new continuing education requirements will need to be completed, etc.
• SB 248 – Auto No-Fault Reform
  • Bill proposed in April 2015 with changes to Michigan’s Auto No-Fault Laws
  • Bill reduced access to medical care, capped treatment coverage, and placed price controls on medical providers
  • Letter provided to Michigan House Insurance Committee members with MSHA’s concerns
  • Sample letter sent to all MSHA members to write into their legislators in opposition of bill
  • CURRENT STATUS: bill has not moved further; currently silent. Will continue to monitor
• Grandfathering for licensure
  • SB 1147 was introduced in 2014 regarding this issue, but the bill never made it past the Health Committee
  • The individual requesting this change contacted her current representative, Rep. Wittenberg
  • Rep. Wittenberg reached out to us asking about this issue. A letter was provided to him with our reasons for opposition
  • CURRENT STATUS: bill has not been reintroduced. Per Noah, Rep. Wittenberg has no plans to do so.
• Lobbyist
  • Previous lobbyist, Stephanie Johnson, resigned from Capitol Services, Inc. and has taken on a new role at Kandler Reed Khoury and Muchmore.
  • Following much discussion, MSHA decided to continue our contract with Capitol Services, Inc. and began working with Noah Smith.

2. Major Challenges:

• Information re: autism and coverage continues to be misleading on State website
  • Focus remains on applied behavioral analysis as the treatment for ASD. Minimal information provided re: speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, etc.

3. Plans/Directions for 2016-2017:

• Increase membership and participation in the committee
• Continued monitoring of legislation
• Plan Day at the Capitol for Spring 2017
• Increase involvement in ASHA initiatives at the state level
• Obtain more information re: Autism benefit, who to contact re: website information

  



COMMITTEE: Ethics Committee
 
Committee Chair: Michelle Bailey
 
Committee Members: Robin Pollens, Cary Cekola, Joyce Irvine, Lindsey Riker
 

1. Primary Accomplishments in 2015-2016 :

Completed three ethics consults for MSHA members.   Created a feedback form to collect data on the effectiveness of consults.  Collected information and talked with members at annual MSHA conference to identify areas of ethical concern.
 

2. Major Challenges/Barriers

Continue to give consults using Google Drive as a quicker way to communicate.  Location of committee members for meetings.  Schedules of committee members when working on consults.
 

3. Plans/Directions for 2016-2017

Provide information to MSHA members about the new ASHA Code of Ethics and the differences from the previous code.

 
COMMITTEE: Health Care
 
Committee Chair: Julie Kiefer Eaman
 
Committee Members: Lisa Bardach, Erica Barker, Sherry Dean, Carolyn Doty, Karen Kurctz, Beverly Jaynes, Stacy Brown, Margaret Tiner,  Tracey Cook, Ann Comstock, Karen Al Saadi, Rosalyn Davis, Tamara Baubie, Erica Barker, Beth Taylor,  Nick Gunnell, Deanna Klein,  Kamie Nipper, Pat Nizio, Susan Tranquilla, Tim Weise,
 

1. Primary Accomplishments in 2015-2016 :

The MSHA Health Care Committee had a busy 2015!   We continue to work towards achieving goals in four focus areas: a.) Continuing Education,  b.) Clinical Practice Issues, c.) Reimbursement and
d.) Supervision of Students.  
In 2015 the committee achieved the following:
 
Continuing Education

• The Conference subcommittee identified speakers for the 2015 MSHA Conference in Lansing.  The conference was very successful; the sessions were jammed!
• We are collaborating with Terry Lange-Winkel to plan sessions for the 2016 MSHA Conference.
• Plans are in place for an evening Health Care Fall Conference on 9/26/16 at St. Joe's Hospital in Ann Arbor.  Included will be opportunities for live long distance learning and access after the date of the presentation.  Mark your calendars and stay tuned for further information about this event.

 
Clinical Practice Issues

• Aphasia Advocacy Project  Together with Matthew Green of Media Lounge Productions we developed two information videos entitled What is Aphasia.  These were completed just in time for June National Aphasia Awareness Month.  The launch was held on Wednesday June 10.  These videos educate the public about what is like to live with aphasia.   Thanks to Matt for his exceptional and extraordinary contributions to MSHA!

The two minute video can be found at this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQEFs4nTIvY&sns=em
And the six minute video via this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoIdEkXpjfg&sns=em
Please share these links with your patients, their families and friend. 

• Outstanding Clinical Award  Dr. Elwood Anderson received a MSHA Outstanding Clinician Award during the Medical Lunch Forum at the 2015 MSHA Conference.   Two nominations for the MSHA Outstanding Clinician Award for 2016 have been received and reviewed.   Site visits by members of the committee have been completed.  The recipients of the award will be announced at the 2016 MSHA Conference.

Reimbursement

• Nick Gunnell, a member of the Health Care committee, collaborated with Julie Pratt, MSHA Past President, Kim Wesoloski and  Dawn Taylor Kutney to successfully secure an ASHA Reimbursement Grant for 2015.
• Due to the leadership of Tim Weise, we continued to follow the legislation that affects our ability to provide services to clients/patients.  Karen Kurcz has agreed to take on this responsibility beginning in 2016. 

Supervision of Students   At the 2015 MSHA conference, we collaborated with representatives from University programs to discuss issues in the supervision of students.

2. Major Challenges/Barriers: None
3. Plans/Directions for 2016-2017

 Membership Recruitment and Retention

• New Member recruitment for the committee

Advocacy
-Professional Collaboration

• Continue to collaborate with representatives from MiOTA and MPTA via the tri-alliance meetings. 

Continue Education/Professional Development

• Increase availability of Association sponsored state-of-the-art continuing education/professional development.
• Acknowledge and reward members with advanced clinical skills and community/ MSHA involvemen
   

EB Office:    Professional Development
 
Vice-President:  Terry Lange-Winkel
 

1. Primary Accomplishments in the year 2015-2016 :

• Planned & held annual conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Worked with Executive Board on possibility of offering webinars and on-line learning opportunities for professional development through MSHA website.
• Obtained approval from MSHA EB for conference site for 2018 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

 

2. Major Challenges:

• Planning and finalizing the conference with regard to issues such as conflicts with dates, contacting invited speakers, approval of sessions, other details, etc.
• With regard to on-line/webinar professional development: Seeking a cost effective method for MSHA to obtain videotaping, storing, and marketing of information.
• Seeking a site to hold 2019 conference in Detroit area that is appropriate in size and logistics for MSHA.

 

3. Plans/Directions for 2016-2017:

• Plan & hold annual conference in Troy, Michigan.
• Continue to investigate methods and logistics of on-line learning format for members.
• Visitation of potential conference sites for 2019 conference.

COMMITTEE: Social Media/ Networking & Communications
 
Committee Chair: Erica Barker
 
Committee Members: Sarah Bell, Erin Barker
 

1. Primary Accomplishments in 2015-2016: 

Assisted with the redesign of the MSHA website. 
Continued to increase followers and interest of MSHA related news/events via various social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest).
 

2. Major Challenges/Barriers

Decreased committee members to carryout all of the ideas and plans.
 

3. Plans/Directions for 2016-2017

“Year-At-A-Glance” plan for social media postings.
Featured MSHA member/EB & AA member/grad program postings on social media and website
Acquire contract for production of MSHA swag (t-shirts, bags, etc.)