Fix SLP: Advocacy & Accountability in Speech-Language Pathology

In this episode of the Fix SLP podcast, Dr. Jeanette Benigas and Elizabeth Nielsen, MA/SLP, are joined by Jessica, a parent and advocate, to discuss Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) and its impact on autistic individuals. The conversation highlights the transformative nature of GLP, the challenges families face in accessing meaningful support, and the systemic barriers posed by outdated practices...

Dr. Jeanette Benigas and cohost Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, are joined by Mikayla Treynor, MA/SLP, to discuss the vital work being done by Fix SLP’s state teams, from addressing Medicaid CCC requirements to educating legislators on the impact of outdated policies. The team emphasizes the importance of persistence, collaboration, and education in driving meaningful change at both state and national leve...

As 2024 comes to a close, join Dr. Jeanette Benigas, SLP, and Preston Lewis, MA/SLP, as they celebrate Fix SLP’s remarkable achievements and share their vision for an empowering 2025. From significant Medicaid credentialing changes to progress in eliminating barriers like the CCC requirement, they reflect on the year’s milestones and discuss their excitement for the road ahead. This episode featur...

Dr. Jeanette Benigas, SLP, Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, and Elizabeth Nielsen, MA/SLP, examine the financial landscape of speech-language pathology, highlighting ASHA's $65 million in cash reserves and $71 million in investments. They critique ASHA's spending priorities, including minimal investment in lobbying, and question how these funds could better support clinicians and the profession. Jeanette pr...

In this episode, Colleen Ashford, MS/SLP, joins Dr. Jeanette Benigas, SLP, to share her first-time experience at the ASHA convention. She takes us inside the ASHA leadership Q&A at this year’s convention, where only a small handful of attendees showed up out of 13,000. From overhearing conversations about extravagant dinners to realizing how disconnected leadership is from the membership, Coll...

Dr. Jeanette Benigas, SLP, Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, and Elizabeth Nielsen, MA/SLP, dig into ASHA’s revenue streams, breaking down key categories such as member dues, convention profits, and special interest groups while highlighting the ongoing lack of financial transparency. A powerful minivan meltdown story illustrates the importance of knowing your worth and standing firm against unfair opportuni...

In this episode of Fix SLP, Dr. Jeanette Benigas, SLP, discusses the hot topic of ASHA's finances, joined by Elizabeth Nielsen, MA/SLP, and Preston Lewis, MS/SLP. The trio unpacks key insights from ASHA's 2023 Form 990, discussing eyebrow-raising numbers like the $1.3 million catering bill and the hefty salaries of executives. They also explore the transparency (or lack thereof) surrounding member...

Dr. Jeanette Benigas, SLP, and Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, tackle common myths in speech-language pathology, focusing on the necessity of the CCC. They debunk the misconception that the CCC is required to bill Medicare, emphasizing that Medicare policy is federal and does not vary by state. They clarify that reinstating the CCC involves only a fee, a passing Praxis score (if needed), and professional d...

Dr. Jeanette Benigas, SLP, and Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, share their reactions the morning after receiving the ASHA Board's decision not to amend Section 3.2 of their bylaws, despite significant support for the 2% bylaws petition, including 50,000 followers and nearly 2 million Instagram views in the last 90 days. The board cited the need to establish standard operating procedures for such petitions,...

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Dr. Jeanette Benigas, SLP, and Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, discuss the latest updates from the Fix SLP movement, including a marathon trip to Delaware to advocate for fair licensure practices. They also discuss the importance of showing up for state boards, the ongoing fight against restrictive CCC requirements, and how Fix SLP fixers are making a real impact. This...

In this urgent and eye-opening episode of the Fix SLP Podcast, Dr. Jeanette Benigas welcomes guests Jamie (Instagram: @straightupslp ) and Lacey, two passionate advocates, and providers in New York’s Early Intervention (EI) system. Together, they expose critical failures in the state’s newly launched EI Hub platform—a case management and billing system riddled with technical issues, including non-...

In this episode, co-hosts Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, and Elizabeth Nielsen, MA/SLP, continue the discussion on the impact of ASHA's membership and certification costs, examining alternative paths for SLPs and exploring ways clinicians can take ownership of their professional journey. They focus on key challenges within the field, such as certification, licensure, and autonomy. The episode also celebra...

Dr. Jeanette Benigas and Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, announced that ASHA has responded to Fix SLP’s petition to amend its bylaws, noting a delay in the response despite the petition being received before the last board meeting. They shared Fix SLP's next steps and highlighted the challenges SLPs face with ASHA’s membership fees, emphasizing the need for better communication and transparency. Preston an...

Dr. Jeanette Benigas and Brooke Richardson, MS, SLP, break down the complexities of continuing education requirements in speech-language pathology, focusing on the costs, challenges, and the need for broader professional development choices with fewer restrictions for clinicians. Brooke, an ASHA CE provider, shares her insights into the rising financial burden of maintaining ASHA Approved CEU stat...

In this bonus episode, Dr. Jeanette Benigas introduces Darla Torkelsen, the owner of Speech Therapy PD, to discuss an exciting new resource for SLPs. The duo talks about the new free CE Tracker , a tool designed to track professional development hours (PHDs) and continuing education units (CEUs), simplifying record-keeping for SLPs. Darla explains how the CE Tracker has been made accessible to eve...

In this episode of the Fix SLP podcast, host Dr. Jeanette Benigas, SLP dives into an insightful conversation with Lindsey Hokel, MS/SLP from Rock the R Speech. They discuss the complexities of navigating professional development in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, focusing on the challenges of providing quality continuing education while avoiding the expensive process of becoming an ASHA-ap...

In this episode of the Fix SLP podcast, Dr. Jeanette Benigas, SLP, and Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, dive deep into the world of continuing education with special guest Dr. Meredith Harold, SLP, from The Informed SLP. They discuss the complexities behind ASHA-approved CEUs, the challenges small businesses face in the PDH/CEU landscape, and new resources for SLPs seeking more autonomy in their professiona...

Dr. Ianessa Humbert, a renowned swallowologist, shares her journey from academia to founding Swallowing Wellness, a Maryland-based clinic focused on swallowing disorders. Despite facing an ethics complaint from ASHA and needing to retake the Praxis, she successfully navigated the Maryland licensing process without reinstating her CCC. Dr. Humbert emphasized the importance of autonomy in SLP practi...

Dr. Jeanette Benigas and Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, discuss the recent petition submitted to ASHA, which aims to push for financial transparency and fair pricing of the Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC). They share behind-the-scenes challenges in gathering thousands of signatures and highlight the growing impact of Fix SLP across the U.S. They also reflect on Fix SLP's first year of achievement...

Dr. Jeanette Benigas and Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, welcome Zane Rankin, MS/SLP, and Sierra Creason for an inspiring episode. Zane shares his groundbreaking journey as the FIRST SLP in Arkansas credentialed for billing without the CCC. Despite facing medical retirement and discovering his CCC was unceremoniously stripped by ASHA, Zane found a way back with the support of Sierra and the Wolf Wellness C...

Dr. Jeanette Benigas talks with Elizabeth Nielsen, MA/SLP Fix SLP's content coordinator, about the information she uncovered while looking at ASHA's financial reports and the questions she started to have about ASHA's land, office building, and rentals. ASHA's lack of financial transparency has left clinicians speculating where the money goes and why the dues cost has increased. In this episode, t...

Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, hosts to learn more about Dr. Jeanette Benigas. Jeanette shares her experiences as an SLP and a parent, highlighting the challenges of balancing work and personal life. For the first time on air, she also shares about her current employment. She emphasizes the importance of support systems and prioritizing personal well-being to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Jeanette...

SLP advocates from Arkansas, North Carolina, Michigan, and Nebraska join host Dr. Jeanette Benigas. They all advocate for removing the CCC and ASHA verbiage from their states' billing requirements for full professional autonomy. They face challenges with Medicaid billing and regulatory issues and lead teams to address these through legislative changes and communication with state representatives....

Hosts Dr. Jeanette Benigas and Preston Lewis, MS/SLP, welcome Tiffany Moniz. MA/SLP, cofounder of the FB group, USA Based OT, PT, & SLP Therapists United for Change to discuss the pressing ethical challenges that clinicians often face in corporate settings, such as the burdens of prior authorization, the importance of clinical autonomy, and the ethical dilemmas that many professionals encounte...

Dr. Jeanette Benigas welcomes Dr. AC Goldberg to discuss his nonprofit, CREDIT Institute, which aims to advance healthcare and higher education equity. They explore their differing views on maintaining the CCC and engaging with ASHA, highlighting ASHA's mixed impact on marginalized professionals. AC acknowledges ASHA's role in advocating for transgender professionals and promoting DEI while also r...