Step-by-Step AAC Funding Assistance from
DynaVox Technologies
Presenter
#1
Kristin
Whitfield
DynaVox Technologies
DSA
Day Phone: 734—394—0376
Fax: 734—394—0376
Email: kristin.whitfield@dynavoxtech.com
Acquiring funding for AAC devices can be challenging and lengthy. This session
will discuss a new tool designed to organize and simplify the funding process.
For new and experienced clinicians alike, acquiring funding for AAC devices can
be challenging and lengthy. Research by Davis S Light (2004) found that the
evaluation process has a median length of 120 minutes. This is compared to 60
minutes for a traditional speech and language evaluation. The difference is
even greater when the full range of times is considered: 30—780 minutes for an
AAC evaluation versus 20—200 minutes for a traditional evaluation. Writing the
AAC evaluation report takes an additional 90 minutes (median time) compared to
60 minutes for a traditional speech and language valuation report. Again the
difference is greater when the full range of times is considered: 10—1080
minutes for an AAC evaluation report versus 10—300 minutes for a traditional
evaluation report.
Once the AAC evaluation and report are completed, speech—language pathologists
are not finished with the funding process. According to Davis & Light
(2004), speech—language pathologists spend and additional one to 25 hours (with
a median of five hours) completing the documentation required for third-party
funding. Finally, the study, indicated that speech—language
pathologists continue to require more time to prepare for and provide therapy
services to individuals using AAC.
This study’s participants were all members of ASHA’s
Special Interest Division on Augmentative and Alternative Communication
(Division 12) . While not required, it is likely that
.these individuals have more experience with AAC evaluations, funding
documentation, and therapy than speech—language pathologists in general. As a
result, other clinicians may require significantly more time to provide
appropriate AAC services to their clients. Additionally, this study does not include
the time that family members and other professionals contribute to the funding
process. If their time was included, the total number of hours needed to obtain
a communication device would likely Increase significantly.
Davis & Light (2004) concluded that providing ‘3AAC services required
significantly more time.” Their recommendations focused on adjusting
caseload/productivity to accommodate AAC users and finding alternate funding
sources to cover the additional time required red to provide adequate AAC
services. Both recommendations would allow speech-language pathologists more
time to serve their AAC users over the long-term (i.e., from evaluations to
receipt of the device to follow-up therapy)
Another option to reduce the time barrier is to examine the process for
completing the documentation required for third—party funding. While this is a
one-time effort, it represents an outlay of a great deal of time (median five
hours). Several organizations currently provide resources to simplify this
process. For example, the AAC-RERC’s (
s a provider of high-tech AAC devices, DynaVox
Technologies is also actively convicted in helping speech—language pathologists
obtain funding for devices and accessories. In this process, DynaVox Funding
Coordinators collect a variety of paperwork which contains similar information
(e.g., name, address, diagnosis, date of birth, etc). Some of this paperwork is
required by DynaVox and others is required by the
third-party payer. Additional documentation concerns include the different
requirements imposed by different funding sources. Confusion over which forms
to complete and what information to include in evaluation reports can result in
delays and increase the time speech—language pathologists spend completing
funding documentations.
In an attempt to streamline the funding process, DynaVox has created a tool
called the Funding Manager. Using the Funding Manager, it is hoped that
clinicians will be able to complete funding documentation in a more timely and
complete manner. This session will provide an overview of the DynaVox Funding
Manager including case management, document completion, report writing,
state—specific, and educational components.
References:
AAC-RERC website. http://www.aac—rerc.com -- Medicare Funding of AAC
Technology.
Information obtained on September 23, 2005. Supported in part by the National Institute
on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)
Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative website,
http://www.dati.org/funding/medicaid3.html. Information obtained on
September 23, 2005.
llinois Assistive Technology
Program website, http://www.iltech.org/index.asp. Information obtained on
September 23, 2005.
North Dakota Interagency Program for Assistive Technology website,
http://www.ndipat.org/products/acc/acc.htm. Information obtained on September
23, 2005.