Bill would ease way for early-career speech pathologists
Rep. Nick Collins told his personal story of overcoming a stutter through years of speech therapy as part of a plea to colleagues Tuesday for their support of legislation he said would give others with speech impediments the opportunity to succeed.
"The bill before you today would change the game for kids who struggle with speech language and learning issues so that they can get the help and support they need to overcome serious but not insurmountable challenges and achieve their potential, unlocking their personalities, who they are, rather than silencing them," the South Boston Democrat told the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Licensure on Tuesday.
Collins testified before the committee with Rep. Paul McMurtry, the sponsor of a bill that would create a provisional license for speech-language pathologists during their clinical fellowship, a 36-week post-graduation period of supervised practice.
Speech-language pathologists in Massachusetts must complete their clinical fellowship before they can be licensed. Although they have earned master's degrees and passed national exams, third-party payers like Medicare will not allow clinical fellows to be reimbursed for their services, according to the bill's supporters.
A provisional license would still give clinical fellows the opportunity for structured mentoring that is part of the licensing process, said Barbara Wilson Arboleda, the voice and speech laboratory clinical coordinator at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.
"But the license would allow our clinics to hire them and bill for their services, and that would allow them to function much better," she said. "At this time, they're virtually unhireable in this situation."
McMurtry, a Dedham Democrat, said that Massachusetts clinics often choose not to hire clinical fellows because they can't bill for their work, driving the new pathologists out of the state. A total of 42 other states provide provisional licensure, he said.
"By not allowing them to practice, they are handcuffed and often forced to go elsewhere," McMurtry said. "This legislation would rightfully correct the problem and respectfully acknowledge the impact and meaningful work of deserving professionals."
Collins described the impact a "rock star" speech pathologist had on his own life, working with him on breathing, speech exercising and understanding what caused his trouble articulating. He told the committee that he wouldn't be in front of them were it not for the pathologist.
"There's no way I would have had the confidence to run for public office, to speak in front of crowds, to testify in front of you," he said. "I certainly wouldn't be representing the 4th Suffolk district in the Massachusetts House."
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