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Committee hears testimony on bill to remove private CCC requirement for Medicaid-paid speech-language services
Summary
House Bill 4484 would codify a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) change allowing speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to bill Medicaid without holding ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). Witnesses said the CCC is a private credential, costs about $250 annually, and can be a barrier to provider participation.
Representative Fox introduced House Bill 4484 and presented witnesses arguing the bill would codify a recent MDHHS clarification that ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) is not required for SLPs to bill Medicaid. Testifiers said Michigan’s state license, not a private certificate, is the public credential that establishes authority to practice.
Why it matters: Witnesses said requiring a private certificate to provide Medicaid-funded care can raise costs for providers and limit access for low-income patients. The bill would write the MDHHS policy clarification into state law to prevent future administrative backsliding.
What sponsors and witnesses said
Representative Fox (sponsor) said MDHHS recently changed its rule to permit Medicaid payment to speech-language pathologists regardless of whether they hold the CCC and that the purpose of HB 4484 is to codify that change into statute.
Dr. Jeanette Venegas, a licensed speech-language pathologist and founder of FixSLP, testified the CCC is “purely accessory” to the state-regulated license and described the state license as the public credential that ensures oversight and consumer protection. She said the CCC costs about $250 per year and estimated it could add up to roughly $7,500 over a 30-year career for a practitioner who must maintain it.
Alexa Chapman, a practicing SLP in northwest Michigan and FixSLP volunteer, told the committee that, although MDHHS clarified Medicaid billing rules in 2024, private insurers and some employers still treat ASHA certification as a required credential and that codifying the rule change will reduce cost barriers and improve access to care.
Committee questions and clarifications
Committee members asked where the CCC had previously been required; witnesses clarified the CCC was not required for Medicaid billing in schools but had been required in other settings such as skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, outpatient clinics and private practice until MDHHS issued its clarification. Witnesses described clinical roles for SLPs beyond pediatric speech therapy, including swallow studies and care for seniors after stroke.
Public comment and next steps
A card was read into the record from the Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association indicating neutrality. Committee members said they would work with the sponsor to advance the bill.
No formal committee vote on HB 4484 was recorded during this hearing.
