| The North Carolina Speech, Hearing and Language Association, inc. |
News
Update: Meeting with Governor Stein on Medicaid Reimbursement Reductions
On November 6, 2025, our team traveled to Raleigh to meet with Governor Stein to discuss the ongoing impacts of the 3% reductions in Medicaid reimbursement rates on our community of allied health professionals. Governor Stein emphasized that resolving this issue will require continued advocacy from both professionals and families who rely on these essential services. He encouraged everyone to keep reaching out to their regional Senators—constituent voices remain critical in urging legislators to protect and strengthen Medicaid funding.
Changes to Dual Licensure Requirements for AUD
On September 30th, HB 296 passed both chambers of NC Legislature and was enacted into law, marking a solid step forward for transparency for patients and improved regulatory barriers in practice. This legislation eliminated dual licensure requirements for audiologists with master’s degrees—an unnecessary barrier for professionals who have been serving the field since before the new standard of doctoral-level training. The legislation also updated the references to audiology assistants that were conflicting in previous legislation. Audiology assistants are already regulated and practice under the supervision of licensed audiologists. Finally, this bill improves patient choice and health care knowledge in establishing that patients must be provided a written disclosure when purchasing a “locked” hearing aid.