Sens Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) released the findings of their new bipartisan investigative report: Loud and Clear: Why Americans Want Effective and Affordable Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids – and How Powerful Special Interests are Trying to Undermine Them.
“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.”
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.
The $1.9 trillion Build Back Better Act was passed by the US House of Representatives on Friday, November 19, and is now with the Senate for what is sure to be a bumpy ride. The bill includes coverage of hearing aids once every 5 years for people with severe to profound hearing loss, as well as funding for universal preschool, expanded Child Tax Credits, several health and pandemic-related initiatives, renewable energy credits, and more.
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The “Build Back Better” legislation being considered by Congress would provide Medicare coverage of hearing aids and services once per ear every 5 years, and now includes audiologists, hearing aid specialists, and other qualified healthcare providers.
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A review of the recent legislative pushes for establishing rules for OTC hearing aids and the expansion of Medicare to cover hearing, vision, and dental services.
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Starkey announced the launch of Listen Carefully, an initiative aimed at “bridging the conversation between hearing healthcare providers and lawmakers in Washington, DC.”
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A recent article appearing on the “NBC News” website by Phil Galewitz with “Kaiser Health News,” discusses the expansion of over-the-counter hearing devices currently on the market for people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, in the absence of FDA regulations governing the 2017 “Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Law.”
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An opinion article published on the data intelligence company Morning Consult’s website by Starkey President Brandon Sawalich discusses some “misconceptions about hearing aids” following President Biden’s recent executive order on competition.
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An article on the “NPR” website discusses a proposed expansion of Medicare that would potentially include coverage for dental, hearing, and vision benefits. An outline of an upcoming budget bill directing the Senate Finance Committee to put forth the expansion was released by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday.
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Now with the pandemic in retreat, lawmakers are considering the appropriate scope of telehealth services, reimbursement policies, and patient access. HIA’s Bridget Dobyan contends that, in a rare area of bipartansanship, US legislators could be on the threshold of a transformative time in health policy and the delivery of healthcare.
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Recently, Good Morning America (ABC) aired a story about a recent announcement from the Biden administration regarding hearing aids. According to the story, the Biden administration has issued an executive order directed to the Department of Health and Human Services to do two things. First, to issue plans to “combat price gouging” regarding hearing aid costs within 45 days and second, to take action within 120 days to propose getting hearing aids available over the counter.
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According to “NPR,” the orders includes plans to allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter at pharmacies, much like Obama administration efforts that strived to make hearing aids less like pricy medical devices and as easy to purchase as reading glasses.
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US Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, announced that he is leading 76 Members of Congress in introducing the “Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act“ to expand the care Medicare provides.
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The organizations invite all members of the audiology community to join them for a town hall event “Securing the Future of Audiology: Collaboration in Action,” on Wednesday, May 26th, at 7:00 PM EDT.
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Long-time industry executive Paul Martin contends that Florida’s dispensing laws are archaic and need updating to allow for the distribution of hearing aids through the mail so underserved populations have more options in getting quality care. In the past week, his letter has generated several responses from HR readers.
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In what “ABC News” reports as a “first” the White House will provide a sign-language interpreter for President Biden’s presidential address to Congress on Wednesday.
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The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced on April 16 that it will be providing a Dear Colleague Letter reminding community partners that are involved in the COVID-19 pandemic response that the “Americans with Disabilities Act” applies to their services.
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