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WyoSHA Telepractice Q&A Panel

Wyoming specialists met April 1 for a Q&A panel discussion to help answer questions regarding Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiology telepractice and direct you to resources they have found valuable. View the recorded Zoom discussion using the following link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19NG1rgIc7xmYH5HwvM7W2xeFR3ZmIR-L/view

Resources from WyoSHA Q&A:

 

Other Resources:

 

ASHA:

Wyoming Telehealth Network

Hello Everyone,

I hope you and your families are remaining healthy as we practice social distancing.

I just wanted to touch base with the WY SLP community and share a few resources related to COVID-19

Last week I attended a webinar provided by ASHA’s Special Interest Group (SIG) 12 for Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC). The webinar was “Tele-AAC- Getting Started” and was provided by Nerissa Hall and Hillary Jellison. The presenters were both SLP’s and Assistive Technology Professionals (ATP’s).

They co-own a company called AACCommunicare. I thought they did a really nice overview of how SLP’s can provide AAC services via tele-practice. It was highly attended with almost 300 participants on the session. I’ve attached the resources from the session. While they were talking about Tele-AAC, many of the approaches would be beneficial to Tele-practice in general.

I also wanted to remind you that WY SLP’s can obtain a no cost, HIPPA secure zoom license for providing tele-health (tele-practice) services through the Wyoming Telehealth Network.

Greg Ronco (gronco@uwyo.edu 307-766-6407) is working to enroll providers and is happy to assist and answer any additional questions. Here’s the link for additional information and enrollment for Wyoming Telehealth Network.
https://www.uwyo.edu/wind/wytn/

The Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources (WATR) is available to help address needs related to Assistive Technology and Augmentative Alternative Communication/Speech Generating Devices.

WATR is providing virtual AT Q & A sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 10:30-11:30 and Virtual Labs on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2-4. You can join either event via the following zoom link:  https://uwyo.zoom.us/j/547279238

Last but not least, I am currently working on developing an AAC Implementation Online Course and a professional learning community for WY SLP’s with an interest in AAC.

If you are interested in participating please let me know and as always please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance.
Wash your hands and stay healthy.

Best Regards,

Terri Wofford, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Wyoming Institute for Disabilities
Dept 4298 1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071-2000
Office 307-766-2932
Fax 307-766-2763
twofford@uwyo.edu

AACCommunicare.com

Here are the resources discussed by Hillary and Nerissa, courtesy of the amazing team at AACCommunicare.com.

Hillary and Nerissa also recommend paper packets that they use – you can find those on their website under Enrichment Activities (https://www.aaccommunicare.com/enrichment-activities), in both English and Spanish.

There are questions about billing for tele AAC services, particularly when training a facilitator, consulting/counseling, asynchronous activities, or other circumstances when the client is not directly involved with the session. Hillary and Nerissa bill schools, so their experience is different from those who bill private payers. ASHA’s Reimbursement team offers the following:

Most payers will not reimburse for consultation services, especially if the patient is not present. If you will be providing a service represented by a CPT code, then you must provide the service described in that code.

For telepractice services typically, payers request that providers use the same CPT code for the service rendered, with the addition of a modifier or POS code to indicate the service was rendered via telepractice. Information on these codes can be found on our webpage coding and payment of telepractice services.( https://www.asha.org/Practice/reimbursement/Reimbursement-of-Telepractice-Services/)

Keep in mind that the codes within the SLP code set include therapy and evaluation services, these codes require direct contact with the patient providing direct therapy (or assessment). Consultation with family or caregivers can be an aspect of the service, but direct patient intervention must occur in order to bill one of the therapy/evaluation codes.

Others asked about assessment via telepractice. ASHA’s Live Events hosted a webchat sponsored by Pearson on this subject in September 2019. The transcript is available here: https://www.asha.org/Events/live/09-10-2019-Assessment-via-Telepractice/

There were also questions about HIPAA compliant platforms – HHS.gov has posted more information on this subject: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html

Keep an eye on the ASHA COVID-19 Landing Page for updates as they become available:  https://www.asha.org/About/Coronavirus-Updates/

Again, many thanks to our presenters and all of this community (and beyond) who have rallied to continue to provide quality, compassionate services to those who need it so greatly.

Brooke Hatfield, MS, CCC-SLP
Associate Director, Clinical Issues in SLP
Ex-Officio SIG 12
ASHA
Rockville, MD

Free Telepractice Resources

 

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