Tag: health insurance

By Melanie Hamilton-Basich The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted new rules requiring all mobile phones to be compatible with hearing aids, which is a win for Americans with hearing loss. This success is in part thanks to those who made their voice heard during the public comment period earlier this year, which I wrote about at the time. And I’m sure many of you took the opportunity to advocate for your position and help shape the new rules. Further Reading: Making All Phones Hearing Aid Compatible Now we’re seeing the fruits of that labor. It just goes to show that your involvement in influencing public policy can make a difference. Take Advantage of Public Comment Periods When it comes to proposed rules and regulations by the FCC and FDA, public comment periods are golden opportunities to advocate for your position. While a committee had already determined that changes were needed and it was possible to make cellphones 100% accessible for people wearing hearing aids, the FCC relied on public comments to determine the details of the requirements. This included revising the definition of hearing aid compatibility to include Bluetooth connectivity technology, determining what Bluetooth technology to use to meet this requirement, and determining how to incorporate this requirement into the FCC’s wireless hearing aid compatibility rules. After considering all of the comments, the final phone compatibility rules now include a new Bluetooth coupling requirement for universal connectivity between hearing aids and mobile devices, volume control standards, and clear labeling to help with purchasing decisions. These new FCC rules now allow Americans with hearing loss to choose the cellphones they want, without needing to worry about whether they’ll be compatible with their hearing aids. Melanie Hamilton-Basich, Chief Editor, The Hearing Review Weigh in On Legislation Contacting local and federal legislators to weigh in on legislation affecting hearing healthcare is another way to make a difference. Right now, the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (H.R. 6445/S. 2377) could use your support. The bipartisan bills, introduced in both the Senate and Congress in 2023, would remove the pre-treatment order requirement for Medicare Part B coverage, authorize the CMS to reimburse audiologists for Medicare-covered diagnostic and treatment services, and recognize audiologists as practitioners under the Medicare statute, which would allow for improved access to audiologic and vestibular care. If you’re so moved, you could write your representatives in Congress to let them know where you stand on this matter and why. What Moves You? There are many ways to raise concerns on behalf of people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and to advocate for hearing care professions and professionals to improve patient care. Speaking up about the causes that speak to you to effect change can be very gratifying. And as they say during election season, if you don’t vote, you can’t complain about the results. So I implore you to make advocacy a healthy habit.

Tag: health insurance

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