ASHA Voices

This week, we're presenting a short, special-edition episode featuring voices of those negatively affected by the new Patient Driven Payment Model. PDPM is changing the way skilled nursing facilities, or SNFs, are reimbursed for services under Medicare. In this episode, we share stories of speech-language pathologists who saw cuts in job status, pay, and patient treatment when PDPM went into effect.

We’ll talk to SLP Kim Murza about how, given their large caseloads, school-based SLPs can work smarter not harder to maximize their services. And, Sean Sweeney of the Speech Techie blog shares tools you can use during speech-language treatment.

Listen in for a conversation about health care trends, patient outcomes, and the evolving role of speech language pathologists in skilled nursing facilities. We’ll hear from ASHA’s director of Health Care Services and a panel of SLPs in leadership roles at rehab companies. We’ll discuss both challenges and opportunities they see in this time of change.

Acronym Guide:

PDPM - Patient Driven Payment Model; SNF - Skilled Nursing Facility; CMS - Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; RUG-IV - Resource Utilization Group; MDS - Minimum Data Set

On the first episode of ASHA Voices, we take a look at the intersection of cognitive-communication disorders (CCDs) and the justice system.

Get a preview of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's new podcast.