The State Advocate for Medicare Policy (StAMP) is LSHA's appointed representative to one of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA) state-based advocacy networks, working alongside the SEALs (education advocacy) and STARs (Medicaid and private payer reimbursement).

The mission is to enhance the advocacy, leadership, and communication of ASHA members at the state level in order to influence the administrative and public policy decisions that affect Medicare coverage and reimbursement of speech-language pathology and audiology services. Your StAMP builds and maintains working relationships with medical directors and key personnel and serves as the bridge between Louisiana clinicians, LSHA, and health care policy teams.

What Your STAMP Does

• Monitors Medicare policy. Tracks local coverage determinations (LCDs), billing and coding articles, and national policy changes affecting speech language pathology and audiology services. 
• Engages the MAC. Establishes and maintains links to Novitas medical directors, contractor advisory committee representatives, and key personnel on behalf of Louisiana providers. 
• Reviews draft coverage policy. Works with StAMPs nationwide to review draft LCDs and develop rationales for accepting, revising, or opposing proposed coverage requirements before they take effect. 
• Connects Louisiana to ASHA. Serves as the direct line between LSHA members and ASHA's health care policy and Medicare teams. 
• Serves as a compliance resource. Helps members locate authoritative guidance on documentation, coverage, and billing requirements under local and national Medicare policy. 
• Identifies trends. Collects member-reported issues to spot patterns reported by Louisiana providers to move contractor policy.