MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan University student Shannon Goetz of Elkridge, Md., knows what it takes for audiologists to become involved in legislative affairs.
Goetz witnessed government in action during an internship in Baltimore, Md., with Craig Johnson, chairman of the American Academy of Audiology's government affairs committee. She also spent a day in Washington, D.C., with Johnson; Jodi Chappell, the AAA health care policy director; and Marshall Matz, AAA lobbyist. They met with Sen. Tom Daschle and his health adviser to discuss various issues affecting audiologists.
She wrote articles related to her experiences that were published in the September-October issues of Audiology Today and Feedback, the Academy of Dispensing Audiologists magazine.
"When we complain about issues, we need to work with state and national organizations to make legislators aware of the issues," said Goetz, a CMU doctor of audiology (Au.D.) student. "If they don't know about the problems, they can't make changes. We should be aware of the audiologists and lobbyists in our professional organizations who are continually working with state and national legislators to achieve greater autonomy for our profession."
Goetz said legislative changes that have affected the field of audiology include allowing direct access to audiologic services without physician referral for certain consumers, determining insurance coverage of certain services, and insurance definitions of qualified audiologists.
"There are countless things that affect how audiologists do their jobs and are reimbursed for their services that need to be addressed, and the only way to do that is by letting those in power know changes need to be made," said Goetz.
She said audiologists can participate directly in state legislative affairs by contacting federal and state legislators, keeping aware of audiology-related governmental issues, writing letters to legislators and contributing to state and national audiology political action committees.
"In the future, I definitely plan to get involved with the Maryland Academy of Audiology and will be active in whatever capacity is needed, which may include governmental action," said Goetz.
Goetz, the daughter of Janet Roth Goetz and Wayne Goetz of Elkridge, Md., earned an undergraduate degree in modern languages and linguistics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a bachelor's degree in speech pathology and audiology from Towson University in Maryland. She applied to CMU for a doctoral degree because of its reputation, clinical experiences and equipment.
"CMU's Au.D. program has a great reputation, and it's the longest standing in the nation," said Goetz. "It includes very intensive and extensive academic and clinical experience. CMU's program draws students from all over the country, and students are involved in residencies across the nation."
From the first day of the program, Goetz said CMU students get experience in a hearing clinic that has three audiometric test booths, auditory brainstem response testing facilities, otoacoustic emissions test equipment, balance testing equipment, and amplification service equipment. Patients come from all over Michigan for hearing assessments, hearing aid evaluations, hearing aid fittings and service, electro-physiologic testing, vestibular assessments, central auditory processing assessments and audiologic rehabilitation.
"This provides lots of preparation for when we go out to do a residency or to find employment," said Goetz.
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