Gloria Petit-Clair 

Dear Colleagues:

This is a great day.  MSTA gave us a report last week that Dr. Smeallie had posted an announcement of an emergency meeting of PSTEB for 1:30 today (Tues) on the MSDE website. The stated purpose of the meeting was to request a withdrawl of his proposed regulatory changes and to cancel the public hearing on August 7th.

I attended the session today with Eric Bryant, MSHA attorney/lobbyist.  By 2:00, the request for regulatory change was withdrawn by unanimous vote. The public hearing was canceled for August 7th.

MSDE received 2,036 comments, and that was only the comments made after June 20th.  I can't imagine being the committee member who reported receiving 800 messages!  The committee members are worker bees, just like us. Their work on PSTEB is in addition to their employment in the community!

Dr. Smeallie expressed his intention to renew the discussion about what to do with SLPs, Auds, PTs and OTs who are all licensed by DHMH.  He charged the members of the Board to think about this issue and bring ideas to the table at the regular meeting on August 7th. Once again, this is a public hearing. I plan to attend.   (Just keeping them honest.)

This is no doubt the most challenging project I have ever dealt with, but also the most rewarding. Although,the outcome is sweet and just,  it is the relationships that have formed across the professions that are the real reward.

Tonight, MSHA had a public policy committee meeting. We are looking at issues of concern in education/healthcare, reimbursement for services, and recognition of our professions in any "universal health care discussions."

We hope that CE-HOP can continue to dialogue of issues of mutual concern.

As I say to my students, "Pat yourself on your back!"

Thank you for your support in all efforts. Small steps took us to that "tipping point".

Please feel free to share this message to get the word out.

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Gloria Petit-Clair, SLP
MSHA Director of Public Policy
SLAAAC