Challenges for professional practice in the next decade

This article is presented in a question and answer format and shares the thoughts of the 2006 President of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Alex Johnson, and current Executive Director of ASHA, Arlene Pietranton, regarding several regulatory issues that the professions of audiology and/or speech-language pathology are likely to have to address over the next decade. Specific topics mentioned include: trends affecting our professions; anticipated service delivery changes; public (i.e., Medicaid and Medicare) and private (i.e., health plans, consumer-driven plans) reimbursement; competing for funding dollars; pay-for-performance; the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; No Child Left Behind; and ASHA's work with various national organizations and federal agencies in the regulatory arena. Several ASHA resources for further information are listed.