The State Advocate for Reimbursement (STAR) is LSHA's appointed representative to one of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA) state-based advocacy networks.

The mission is simple: consistent coverage and equitable reimbursement for speech-language pathology and audiology services from Louisiana Medicaid and private health plans. Your STAR serves as the bridge between Louisiana clinicians, LSHA, and ASHA's national health care policy team  making sure what's happening in Louisiana clinics, hospitals, schools, and private practices reaches the people who can help change it.

What Your STAR Does

• Monitors payer policy. Tracks Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) and commercial insurance policies affecting coverage, coding, and payment for our services.
• Connects Louisiana to ASHA. Serves as the direct line between LSHA members and ASHA's reimbursement and Medicaid policy teams, and collaborates with STARs across the country facing similar battles.
• Advocates with decision-makers. Engages with the Louisiana Department of Health, Medicaid managed care organizations, the Department of Insurance, legislators, and employers on reimbursement issues affecting our professions.
• Identifies trends. Collects member-reported issues to spot statewide patterns, because one clinician's denial is often a hundred clinicians' denials.
• Educates members. Shares payer updates, coding changes, and advocacy resources so you can protect your practice and your patients.