MONTANA SPEECH LANGUAGE HEARING ASSOCIATION

2025 Legislative Session: MSHA bills and updates

(Updated January 12, 2025)

1.  LC1850: Medicaid Reimbursement Bill  (Bill to increase Medicaid Reimbursement for ST/OT/PT in MT).  
2.  LC3891: Assistant Bill Date Change (Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Lynch): This is a bill that will change the date for those who have been working as unlicensed or registered Speech Therapy or Audiology aides to become licensed as assistants if they have the Board required number of hours of supervised practice.  The law currently says hours must have been acquired by January 1, 2024. This bill will extend the date to July 1, 2025, so that those still working on obtaining all of the hours (690 for speech, 100 for audiology) can do so by the new date and still become licensed without other educational requirements.  See the current requirements to become a Speech Therapy or Audiology Assistant at the Department of Labor and Industry website.
3. LC 457: The Department of Labor and Industry is proposing to combine the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology with the Boards for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers.  This would change the make-up of the Board
4. (Caseload cap bill: No draft yet):  Montana does not have caseload or workload caps for SLPs working in schools at this time.  MSHA is looking to run a workload/caseload study bill for this session, which would help inform a bill next session.   Another group (The Montana Federation of Public Employees) may be working on a caseload bill for this session, and we are in discussion with them to work on this bill cooperatively.  Stay tuned on this one!!                            ** MFPE invites all school-based SLPs/AuDs to join them for their day of Action on February 17, 2024 at the Capitol.  Sign up here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/tpwSRjFVVE2jUeev61uYPQ2

What does it take for a bill to become a law?  Read the steps here!

View the MSHA Advocacy Presentation given to at UM NSSLHA Day of Advocacy in April 2024 to learn more about MSHA's Advocacy work.

Information from last session (2023):

Last session we successfully implemented language for Assistant Licensure in Montana.  Individuals can apply to be a SLP Assistant or Audiology Assistant at the Department of Labor and Industry Website, which is  linked above.  On January 10, 2025, the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology emailed out the following information:

We also successfully implemented language to make Montana members of the Audiology/Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC).  Our latest update is that the Compact is hoping to issue privilege to practice in August 2025. Background checks are required for Compact members. As a result, all of Montana license applicants now have to have a background check when they apply for licensure (as of laws passed by the 2023 Legislature).  Only those who wish to be members of the Compact will need to pay the fee that will be set by the Commission for the privilege to practice in other ASLP-IC states.  Each state will have an SLP and and Audiologist as members of the ASLP-IC Commission, which is the body that sets rules and fees for the Compact.  Find out more about the Compact and see the most up-to-date list of Compact states at https://aslpcompact.com/.  Find out more about the Compact licensure data system at https://compactconnect.org/.

Want to get involved? 

• TAKE ACTION! Voice support for legislative efforts on behalf of the professions.

• Know your local elected officials.

• Promote student advocacy.

• View ASHA's Advocacy Module

• Join MSHA's Political Action Committee:  Join the team that is working for you! Jobs of all sizes are available - we will find something that fits.   

• Contact Shelby Midboe to find out how you can participate, or regarding legislative issues:   Email slp.shelby.midboe@gmail.com