The 2015 Vice President for Advocacy is Kelli Pierce. Legislative questions and comments can be directed to the MSHA office or directly to Kelli by clicking on her name to send an e-mail.
MSHA Legislative Breakfast at the Annual Conference
MSHA Members Cary Cekola and Kathy Rigley-Rowell with Representative Jon Hoadley and Senator Margaret O'Brien at the 2015 Legislative Breakfast.
ACTION ALERT
This morning, the House Insurance Committee passed a revised version of Senate Bill (SB) 248. We are deeply disappointed that despite compelling testimony from individuals and organizations providing very specific steps to improve the Michigan auto no-fault system, the bill continues with changes that only benefit the insurance industry, and actually harm survivors of catastrophic auto accidents and the providers who care for them.
We urge you to contact the your state representative ASAP and ask them to vote NO on Senate Bill 248 as passed by the House Insurance Committee. You may use this sample letter or one of your own. For a list of emails for the House Insurance Committee or to find your Representative.
The bill contains:
NO meaningful rate reforms;
Inadequate compensation for providers who care for survivors of traumatic auto accidents;
NO balanced approach to fraud; and
STILL NO transparency required of the current Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association.
Licensure Information
All Speech-Language Pathologists in Michigan need to be licensed by December 7, 2013. Applications are available on the LARA website at http://www.mi.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-27417_27529_53664---,00.html
MorphoTrust is the company that does fingerprinting in Michigan for Licensure. Please contact MorphoTrust at http://www.l1enrollment.com/locations/?st=mi
Do you have a question about licensure? Please direct all questions pertaining to licensure to LARA at bhcshelp@michigan.gov
You can easily track your file by checking the online checklist at www.michigan.gov/appstatus. Use your customer number and instructions that you will receive approximately 3 weeks after receipt of your application.
For more information:
www.michigan.gov/healthlicense
Speech-Language Pathologists will not use "L" after CCC-SLP. You may indicate you are licensed on your resume/vita.
FAQs About Applying for Licensure
To check on the status of your license
To verify a license
Michigan-specific FAQ's, guidelines and requirements for Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist
Licensure for our field defines our scope of practice and outlines our roles,, responsibilities, and skills. The current law (PA 524) is a comprehensive licensure law requiring all speech language pathologists in the state of Michigan to obtain licensure by December 7, 2013. Michigan is now joining the other 47 states that require licensure for our profession. Here are a few reasons why licensure is important:
Protects the individuals of all ages who need the services of SLPs
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Identifies the differences between SLPs and others (paraprofessionals, assistants, teachers and rehabilitation techs) for employers, clients, family members and the public
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Ensures that only those of us with the appropriate qualifications and training can provide speech-language pathology services
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Deters the hiring or substitution of other workers who do not have the necessary, accurate and/or appropriate education, qualifications and training
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Provides job portability allowing those who are qualified for full licensure to work in all settings
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Enhances recruitment of CFYs and other professionals from other states to work in Michigan
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Deters unethical behavior from professionals and employers, such as under/over utilization, fraud and misrepresentation
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Allows a venue for you, as a professional, to express concerns regarding those in your profession who may be unethical in their practice
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Provides a venue for consumers to seek censure of individuals who have committed malpractice or other unethical behavior
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Provides the necessary authority to intervene in cases of provider misconduct
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•Increases accessibility to and reimbursement from third-party payer sources (such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan) who stipulate that only licensed/regulated professionals participate in their plans.
The following people serve on the Licensure Board:
Brit Austin, M.A. of Oxford, term expires December 31, 2018
Jodi Cohen, M.A. of East Lansing, term expires December 31, 2018
Erica Dwyer M.A. of Williamsburg, term expires December 31, 2015
Janelle Edmunds, of Clarkston, term expires December 31, 2017
Patrisha Mervenne, M.A. of Bloomfield Hills, term expires December 31, 2016
Christopher Mills, B.A. of Grand Rapids, term expires December 31, 2015
Melissa Pynnonen, M.D. of Ann Arbor, term expires December 31, 2016
Bradford Swartz, Ph.D. of Mt. Pleasant, term expires December 31, 2015
Jeffrey Weingarten, M.D. of Grosse Pointe Woods, term expires December 31, 2017
Lyn'ee Wells, of Grand Rapids, term expires December 31, 2016
The rules can be viewed on the following link:
http://www7.dleg.state.mi.us/orr/Files/AdminCode/104_69_AdminCode.pdf
For more information please see the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs website at:
http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-27417_27529_53664---,00.html
How can I get more information?
http://www.mi.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-27417_27529_53664---,00.html
Advocacy Links
www.capitolservices.org (MSHA Lobbyist)
www.asha.org/advocacy/
Link to ASHA that allows you to search for advocacy topics by state