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Colorado

Jeanette Benigas24min

Jeanette Benigas

00:00

Hey fixers. I'm Dr. Jeanette Benigas, one of the cofounders of Fix SLP. Our platform exists to discuss the biggest challenges that are currently holding back the field of speech language pathology. We present the issues with facts and invite you to be a part of joining this movement to make things better one conversation at a time. So let's fix SLP!

Jeanette Benigas

00:33

Hey, everybody, welcome back. I am so excited to be bringing you another extra fix today. Today we have Lacey Helms. She is the current president of the Colorado Speech Language and Hearing Association. And before she and I jump in, I want to preface the conversation by letting all of you know that the views stated today are not reflective of Lacey's personal opinion, but instead are representative of the Colorado Speech Language and Hearing Association Executive Board as a whole. Thanks for coming on. Lacey.

Lacy Helms

01:02

Thank you so much for introducing me and I always like to tell people my full name is Jacqueline Lacy Hoyer-Helms, which is really long, it doesn't even fit on a debit card, but I do like to call be called Lacy Helms, so I prefer that name. And so thank you for introducing me.

Jeanette Benigas

01:18

Sure. Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself? Who are you? What do you do? What do you do for fun? Let us know.

Lacy Helms

01:25

Yeah, I graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley in 2004. So I've been a speech language pathologist for 20 years. Now, it's hard to believe that and during that time, I've worked in a variety of settings. But most of my time was spent in early intervention and pediatric home health, which is really my passion. And currently, I don't see a caseload. I do help with mentoring and coaching in our clinic and in our home health. But I currently am the co owner and operator of Oasis pediatric therapy, which is a home health care agency that serves 10 counties in Colorado. And we also have a clinic in Greeley, Colorado. And we are also a second option or opportunity that I have in front of us is I'm a co founder of whale which stands for we help in love everyone, which is going to be the first center based respite in Greeley Colorado and Weld County that we have had and it will open in June 2024. And we'll be able to provide respite services to up to 55 children in a center based setting and be able to have accessibility and a wonderful environment for those children.

Jeanette Benigas

02:36

I love that!!! I didn't know that about you. So is this respite where kiddos can come and stay? Or is it just like day respite? Tell me about that. I know this is about your state, but I want to hear more. Because I'm only familiar with adult respite services where maybe they go to a long term care facility for a week so family can have a break. But what does that look like for kids because I bet my adult med people have no idea about this.

Lacy Helms

03:04

Well, respite for the pediatric population is actually very difficult to find. And oftentimes most parents don't have options for respite care. Like I said, we will be the first center based respite facility in Weld County, and there are only a few others in Colorado. And our our center will open up and be like a typical daycare childcare setting where we have specific hours that were open 7am to 6pm. But as we move forward, we will be able to offer more drop in slots, and people are able to do some part time situations. For the summer, we're starting with camps for school aged children. And so this will be a lot like a center based daycare, but we will be able to provide respite for families who maybe their children have a variety of different needs that maybe cannot be serviced appropriately at a at a typical daycare that we're so excited to have.

Jeanette Benigas

04:07

This might be a fixed SLP episode down the raad. I really want to elevate people who aren't necessarily fixing SLP, but are who are finding these areas of need and really just improving. So anyway, let's get back to your state. Amazing. So how did you get involved with your state association? And what do you love about it?

Lacy Helms

04:30

So I actually I work with a consultant who had recommended that I become part of legislation and working with the state association to become involved with what's going on in Colorado and to make a positive impact in the areas that I can and really, I've always wanted to advocate for our profession. I've always had this as a goal to give back to the profession that has really changed my family tree and has provided a very good career for myself. and has, like I said, changed my family tree. So I'm very grateful to this profession. And so it's an honor to be able to advocate for our profession and make a difference.

Jeanette Benigas

05:09

I know before we started recording, you said that Colorado has done a bunch of advocacy efforts that have really made a difference. So why don't you tell us about some of those what advocacy has the state undertaken in previous years, not right now. But previously, that has made a difference for Colorado clinicians.

Lacy Helms

05:29

The most recently, we have been working with HC path to be able to complete 12 visits prior to requiring a par in Colorado. And this will give us parity with PT and OT and our state. And we were able to make this a reality. There have been a few things that we're working on to continue to make sure that the process goes smoothly with Medicaid. But that was a real big win in our advocacy. And we've also been working continuously on increasing reimbursement rates for outpatient speech therapy services. And over the last four years, we have seen an 11% increase. Now that is presuming that the 2.5 2.5% that is projected for 2024 will go into effect July 1, that is likely to happen. But of course, we will have to wait to make sure that that goes through in 2023. We saw 3% increase. We also saw 3% increase in 2022. And in 2021, we had a 2.5% increase. And then another thing that we've been working on that we had worked on in Colorado was passing the interstate compact which we were able to successfully pass through legislation.

Jeanette Benigas

06:41

Wow. So everybody who's not getting paid enough needs to move to Colorado open their own practice.

Lacy Helms

06:48

Well, what I would say about that is we're also while we're working to become into parity with PT and OT and a lot of ways in Colorado, we're also working on parity within our profession and working on reimbursement for outpatient services to be close to what our reimbursement is in home health for the same for speech language pathology services,

Jeanette Benigas

07:09

which would be great. We need to be paid are worth so good for Colorado for taking that on. We need that across the board. But man, yeah, wait, that's that's, that's a whole nother podcast. I have other SLPs pockets where we talk about reimbursement and knowing your worth, everybody can go listen there. But yeah, good for you guys. You sort of just mentioned it, but I'm sure there's more. What's something your state is working on now? And then how can Colorado clinicians best support this effort?

Lacy Helms

07:38

A few of the things that we've been working on is recently we've seen an increase in power denials through Medicaid for outpatient speech therapy services. And so we've been working with stakeholders to understand the issues. And we've been working with HIPAA to work through those, they've had several meetings with us. And we've had good conversation back and forth, being able to report to them, what stakeholders are telling us our difficulties, and then working with us with the case numbers and having conversation back and forth. So while we're working through some difficulties, we've had a really good working relationship. And that is going very well. So we appreciate their time very much and their efforts of communicating with us. Of course, we're also working, like I said, on increasing reimbursement, that's something that we continue to advocate for. And also a big thing that we're working on right now, as we had filled out an application to work on the certification of SL pas outside of the school setting in Colorado. We submitted the application in 2023. And upon the completion of the review of the application, they did not recommend that we were to be going forward with the certification through Dora, which is the Department of regulatory agencies because we were unable to provide cases of harm. And that is a requirement in Colorado for Dora to recommend that a profession be certified through Dora, this was a difficult thing to try to come up with because there is not a place to report such harm. And so we did do our very best in our due diligence to try to find cases. But ultimately, it was very difficult to do so and so they did not recommend that we move forward with that application, if you will, they denied that it should move forward. So we are currently pursuing other options to see if there are other avenues that we can move forward, such as with legislation, perhaps doing a legislative bill at the next legislative session, which would require that we have stakeholder input and meetings and we would need stakeholders to come to us with information about concerns, things that would be positive and a lot of input from people from across our profession and a lot of settings also so that we can fully understand if we should continue moving forward. With this as a possible piece of legislation,

Jeanette Benigas

10:02

I want to back up, just so I'm clear, because if I have this question, there are listeners who are going to have this question. When you were looking for cases of harm, you had to actually find real life examples where SL pas have caused harm to patients or clients in the state of Colorado. And you were denied an application because you couldn't find cases of harm. Did I understand that right?

Lacy Helms

10:30

They allowed us to do the application. And we went through the application process. And we had several meetings with the people who review the application. They listened to us, they explain the cases of harm, they explained that this was a major component of the application moving forward to the next stage of the process. And they worked with us they did an observation, they did a lot of things to work with us. But that is absolutely correct, we were not recommended to move forward with door certification because we as a board could not come up with examples of actual harm to patients in Colorado, or students or clients from SL pas. And this was a difficult task, there were several things that I was able to find that I felt may be useful, but it was not an actual case of harm. And so the application report that they put out, they did not recommend that we would move forward to the next stage in the process.

Jeanette Benigas

11:27

This is just crazy to me, because what that means is your SLPs are killing it. They're doing a good job. They're taking care of people, we're not causing harm. It's like yes, let's give you this because you guys are doing a great job. But oh no, we you need to actually be harming people. That seems so backwards to me, never heard of something like this before.

Lacy Helms

11:50

It's difficult because of parity. Again, because PTs and OTs do have in their practice act in Colorado, the language that supports them being able to have assistance in Colorado, and in the SLP Practice Act. That is not the case. And so SLPs can work through the Colorado Department of Education in the public school setting. However, there is not certification for SLPs, outside of that setting. And so there is nowhere to report cases of harm other than the Colorado Department of Education.

Jeanette Benigas

12:22

Wow. So if you move forward with this for with legislation in the next legislative session, you're you said you're going to need input from stakeholders. Can people expect to see stuff like this on your social media? Do you send emails if people want to get involved at that point, because fixed us LP keeps saying the states are where it's at this is where you get control of the profession. This is where you have your autonomy, where should they be looking if this is something that's piquing someone's interest, and they want to get get involved in this when it's time, what can they do?

Lacy Helms

12:54

During the second half of the year. So starting in July, we will start working on putting information out on our website and on social media to provide opportunities for people to sign up and become part of the stakeholder list for being a part of meetings and different types of meetings and things that we will have that we will need and put on. And so we will be putting that information out, like I said in the second half of the year, so that we can determine by the end of the year if we are going to be able to sponsor a bill through legislation for that next 2025 legislative session. And so we are waiting until the second half of the year so that we have a good six months to work on that. But that way we're focused and precise on what we're working on.

Jeanette Benigas

13:40

I think that's going to be so important for your state, because now's the time to get control of it and make that SLPA profession. I don't know the word I'm looking for. But make it what your state wants it before someone else comes in and makes it what they want it. So getting control of that and regulating it at the state level, I guess is is going to be really important. So keep an eye out for that everyone, if you're in Colorado seems like an important thing to be doing. We get a lot of questions at fix SLP from SL pas. And my first response is always well, it's the Wild Wild West, it depends on what state you live in. And it's just it's a budding thing. And I think we have a lot of examples from audiology and speech pathology of what to do and what not to do. So now that everybody's aware, get in there with your state and make it happen.

Lacy Helms

14:32

Well, we have university programs that are offering the SLPA program and there's a workforce shortage in Colorado, but there are also things that we need to think about about setting and requirements for what type of education supervision and to provide the highest standard of care for patients and clients and students. And so there's both sides of the issue that we need to be to knocking them out to ensure that we understand and like you said, do the best thing for Colorado and make sure that the highest standards are followed so that we can be an example of providing the highest quality of care to the people that we are serving in Colorado.

Jeanette Benigas

15:16

Yeah, it's great that you already have the programs, the last state that I recorded with when they wanted to start all of this, they didn't have any of their programs with SLPA departments. So they had to create those first, and then they were able to regulate. So you guys are ahead of that. So it sounds like that's something that you're looking at for the future. But is there anything else that is on the agenda for Colorado in the future? What do you anticipate will need to happen to make those things a success?

Lacy Helms

15:45

The other thing is I talked about increasing reimbursement and trying to work on parity within our profession, but also with PT and OT, and continuing to work with Medicaid with some of the difficulties that we see with poor denials and things like that. And those are the biggest issues that we're focusing on in Colorado right now.

Jeanette Benigas

16:04

Sounds like you have a lot of good things happening in Colorado. Sounds like you have a great plan moving forward. But how do you decide on what the agenda is from year to year? How does the association determined that?

Lacy Helms

16:14

That's a great question, I am so grateful for the amazing people who serve on our board of directors, we have an amazing group of people who volunteer to be a part of our group. And we have monthly board meetings. And during during that time, our agenda is that by each department, all of the different departments add to our agenda. And we as we get questions throughout the year, or through email, we answer those and sometimes those things are added to our agenda. We recently did a strategic planning session with Eileen Crowe from Asha, that really helped us formulate our next five year plan. And that strategic session was very helpful for us to develop a long term plan and short term objectives. We are continuing to work through all of that, and we'll be rolling that out. So that is a big part of how we're going to move forward with how we set our agenda. But we also have those people, like I said, that I'm so grateful for that serve on our board of directors that come to us with all of the information that they are learning in their different areas, and bring it back to the board for us to discuss and decide what's most important for our state at this time. And with stakeholder input, also through emails, and if they also call and ask a question to our state association management company.

Jeanette Benigas

17:29

So this has been a really interesting question for me that as I've been learning about all of the state associations, if you're comfortable sharing, does your state pay for a lobbyist? And if so, what is the cost for your state for that lobbyist?

Lacy Helms

17:45

Yes, we do pay for a lobbyist. We have a phenomenal lobbyists that we've had for multiple years, she gives us a significant discount, which we appreciate. She deserves, though to be paid without the discount. But the state association, it is difficult to make sure that our budget is balanced, and we pay her $12,000 a year. And like I said, she gives us a significant discount. And she is amazing, and really deserves to be paid at a higher rate. But we are very grateful that she does give us that discount so that we can move forward with continuing with our lobbyist.

Jeanette Benigas

18:19

That's amazing. That's great. I need to find a discounted person. Yes, we're very grateful for her and her agency who allows that. So if people like what we're talking about, like what they're hearing, and they're thinking about joining, what can they expect, as a member of the association.

Lacy Helms

18:39

So we have a wonderful conference every year, this year, it's going to be October 4 And fifth in Parker, Colorado at the pace center. It's absolutely beautiful facility. We've had the conference there before. So we know how great it is. It's a really beautiful facility. And it's affordable. You can get all of your CPUs at one location. It's on a Friday and a Saturday. And so we offer that once a year. And we do quarterly webinars which are a great opportunity to participate in, which are very affordable. They're only $5 If you're a member $25 If you're not a member, we welcome everyone. For those you can also expect to have member discounts with variety of different companies in our profession, which is great, and we provide advocacy. One of my favorite days of the year with Kashia is going to the Capitol with the students where we get to meet with the legislators, we get to sit on the Senate floor and the House floor. We get to learn and it's just such a great time. It's absolutely my favorite day of the year every year. I love doing that. And everyone's welcome to do Capitol day with us, the more of us the better. And we also do some in person social events to try to get people together as well as we have a CF mentoring program, which is another amazing opportunity if you're a member.

Jeanette Benigas

19:56

I love the idea of a mentorship program locally. That's great. I'd love a $5 webinar or two. So people want to attend because you said anyone can. So if I wanted to attend a webinar, would I be able to get a certificate at the end if I'm tracking my own professional development hours? So is there something like that offered? Or is it just a webinar for enrichment?

Lacy Helms

20:18

You would receive a certificate with the ASHA CEUs. And we do have them reported to ASHA. So it's a fairly simple process. And like I said, they're they're very affordable at $25 for non members and $5 per members.

Jeanette Benigas

20:31

Just a reminder to everyone if you haven't been following our content, because there's a lot of it that you don't necessarily have to take ASHA CEUs. ASHA themselves doesn't even require that. They require professional development hours. So you can take things like this from states in Colorado, or Texas, or Ohio or wherever, if you see some kind of CEU opportunity that you're interested in. It doesn't have to be from your own state, it doesn't have to be ASHA approved. But in this case, it iS. It can literally just be a professional development opportunity. And as long as you're getting a certificate or proof of attendance, you can track that yourself. But in this case, if you have ASHA track that they can do that for you. So follow them on social media look out for those types of opportunities, because we all have things we need to learn and grow in. And so that's a, that's a great way to keep doing that. And $25 as a non member, as it is, that's a steal, you know, compared to like a huge conference where it's hundreds of dollars. So how can clinicians best communicate their ideas and concerns to your association? And then once ideas or concerns come in? How do you all handle those?

Lacy Helms

21:44

The best way to communicate with us is through email, and you would email us at CASHAassociates.org, which is CSHA@cshassoc.org.

Jeanette Benigas

21:57

Let's pull this all together. People are interested in those discounts interested in those things that you guys have going on. They want to join, how can they join? How much does it cost for your members, what's the process to become a member?

Lacy Helms

22:13

You would go to our website, which is cshassoc.org, which is the cshassoc.org. And you would click on the Join Now button. And for members, for professional members, it's $75 for one year, or $120. For two year membership for our students, it's $30 a year or $10 if your initial members, so there is a discount. SLPs are $45 a year. And if you're a PhD student, you are at $55 a year for a membership.

Jeanette Benigas

22:48

That's great pricing. I love the two year discount. Every state does this differently. And I think you're the first one that has said oh, if you join for two years, you get $15 off a year. That's another great idea from a state that other states might want to think about doing. You guys are on social media. What are the handles? What social media sites are you on? And where can people find you? Do you know?

Lacy Helms

23:12

On Instagram, you can look us up @csha.co On Facebook, it's Colorado Speech Language Hearing Association. And you can also find us on LinkedIn.

Jeanette Benigas

23:22

Alright, Lacy, is there anything else you wanted to add or talk about before we end the episode?

Lacy Helms

23:28

I just wanted to thank you for giving us this platform to talk about our state association. It really helps us to let people know what we're doing on the state level. And I really just appreciate your time and openness to ask me questions. And let me tell you a little bit about what we're doing in Colorado and very grateful for that. So thank you for your time.

Jeanette Benigas

23:47

Sure! We get - I told you this before we started recording, we get a ton of Colorado emails. Everybody in Colorado is following fixed SLP. So I think this episode will be really well received. I think your clinicians have been chomping at the bit to hear from the association. So here you go, guys. There it is it now you've asked, we've delivered. So if you're not a member, now it's your turn, go join and at the very least follow their social so you can join their webinars and go to the conference and you know, help with these legislative things coming up that you might start seeing things about in July. So there you go, guys. Alright, Lacey, thanks for coming on. I really appreciate you giving us your time. If you love what we're doing, give us a five star rating and review. And maybe when you see the title on social media tag your state association, let them know you want to hear from them on the pod and we'll see you next time. Thanks for fixing it!

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