A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has reintroduced the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act to eliminate barriers preventing Medicare beneficiaries from directly accessing care from audiologists.
A new senate bill signed into law requires hearing instruments offered for sale in Illinois to be accompanied by a return privilege.
Senator Chuck Grassley's (R-Iowa) office announced that he met with Iowa Audiology President and CEO Dr Jason Aird to discuss the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) finalization of a key rule allowing hearing aids to be sold over-the-counter – a “bipartisan effort Grassley has led for over five years.”
The bipartisan “Delivering Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Now Act” follows the FDA’s proposed rule implementing over-the-counter hearing aids in October 2021, which was issued more than a year after the statutory deadline and over four years after the law’s passage.
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The Kansas Senate approved a final bill that updates the term “hearing impairment” to “hard of hearing” in state statute, according to an article in the “Kansas Reflector.”
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“SB 498” stipulates that “’a health insurer issuing an individual policy that provides major medical or similar comprehensive coverage for a dependent child’ to cover hearing aids at $3,500 per ear for two years, including at least six ear molds over that same period,” according to “WFLA.”
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In an effort to remove what some call “offensive language,” from state code, Tennessee legislators are petitioning to purge the phrase “deaf and dumb” from the records and replace it with “deaf or hard of hearing,” according to an article in “Newsweek.”
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A new bill introduced in the Washington State Legislature may make coverage for exams, fittings, and hearing instruments, among other things, mandatory for health insurance companies beginning in January 1, 2023, according to an article in “The Olympian.”
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A bill introduced by Minnesota Senator Tina Smith may ease the way for veterans to receive treatment for tinnitus or hearing loss related to their military service.
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A new bill introduced by a member of British Parliament, Rosie Cooper, could help make British Sign Language (BSL) a recognized language, according to an article in “The Guardian.”
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In a letter to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) expressed their support for key provisions in the FDA’s proposed rule for regulating over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids.
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A new bill winding its way through the Maine Legislature would make newborn screenings for cytomegalovirus (CMV) compulsory in the state, according to an article on the “News Center Maine (WCSH)” website.
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A statement from Starkey President Brandon Sawalich addresses President Biden’s announcement about the White House Competition Council, which was established by the July 2021 Promoting Competition in the American Economy executive order advancing US economic competition.
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Eargo, Inc (Nasdaq: EAR), a medical device company on a mission to improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss, announced the submission of public comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning its proposed rule to create a new regulatory category of over the counter (OTC) hearing aids.
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The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) announced that it filed comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its proposed rule establishing Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids. Once finalized by the FDA, consumers 18 and older with mild-to- moderate hearing loss will be able to purchase hearing aids at retail and online outlets.
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The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) cautions that OTC hearing aid rules currently under review by the FDA may unintentionally hinder or repeal important consumer protection authorities, undermining states’ ability to ensure safe and affordable access to hearing aids. Currently, all 50 states have hearing professional licensing requirements and many have important protections for hearing aid consumers, including advertising restrictions, as well as mandatory warrantees and returns.
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The Hearing Industries Association (HIA) announced that it has submitted comments in response to the proposed over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid rules published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 20, 2021.
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The settlement resolves a complaint by a deaf patient who alleged that despite her requests for an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for her labor and delivery, Advent failed to provide an interpreter or any other communication aid or service.
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