Proposal appropriate for submission to this topic area include all aspects of running and managing an SLP practice in any setting. Topics may include issues related to reimbursement, coding, billing, business development, employee management, regulatory requirements and advocacy in speech-language pathology. Proposals addressing issues related to service delivery models should also be submitted to this area. Interprofessional education, practice, and/or research that addresses the implementation of interprofessional competencies within curricular or practice models or the evaluation of collaborative care outcomes should be included in this topic area.

Research

Translational, applied, or implementation research related to SLP business practices and management issues

Professional Education

• Service delivery models/systems
• Business efficiency strategies
• Business development (e.g., policies, procedures)
• Utilization of assistants and support personnel in business
• Interprofessional team development and management
• Licensure and independent provider status, licensure compact
• Marketing and consumer relations
• Risk management and quality control
• Outcomes measurement
• Documentation
• Budgeting and financial management
• Billing and reimbursement: coding, managed care, Medicare and third-party reimbursement
• Denials and appeals
• Government regulatory and compliance issues
• Accreditation issues related to Joint Commission, OSHA, CARF, CHAP, Department of Education, etc.
• Legislative and regulatory advocacy
• Project management
• Ethical issues as they pertain to business management
• Technology as it applies to business and practice management for SLPs (e.g. productivity apps)
• Legal issues including expert witness testimony
• Employee recruitment and retention, onboarding

Related Topics

Proposals that include this topic but have a primary focus on:

• The use of telepractice in the delivery of service that includes technology-based approaches and outcomes at the system level should be submitted to the Telepractice topic area.
• Hearing aid dispensing should be submitted to the Dispensing, and Business and Practice Management: Audiology topic area.
• Supervision of assistants should be submitted to the Supervision and Precepting topic area.
• Cultural considerations, health disparities and access to services related to business and practice management for speech-language pathologists should be submitted to the Equity and Cultural–Linguistic Diversity topic area.