[Ohio-Talk] Fwd: US House of Representatives Passes Bill Adding New Medicare Hearing Benefits

[Maggie Stringer]

After months of deliberations and negotiations, the House of
Representatives passed an amended version of the Build Back Better Act
(H.R. 5376) that includes several hearing-related
provisions<https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearingnewswatch/2021/medicare-hearing-aids-audiology/>
that would impact Medicare patients and providers, if ultimately
enacted.

The bill would add coverage of treatment services provided by
audiologists—for the first time in the program’s history—and
reclassify audiologists as practitioners adding them to the list of
providers eligible to furnish services via telehealth.

The American Academy of Audiology (AAA), the Academy of Doctors of
Audiology (ADA), and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
(ASHA) have championed these provisions as part of the Medicare
Audiologist Access and Services Act (H.R.
1587<https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1587/text>/S.
1731<https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1731>).
These efforts have focused on ensuring that audiologists are able to
provide the full range of services under Medicare that they are
educated, trained, and licensed to provide.

Improvements Sought in Senate

While AAA, ADA, and ASHA are pleased that these provisions have been
included—a major victory for audiologists—the organizations indicate
that they are disappointed that the bill does not remove the physician
order requirement for coverage of diagnostic audiology services, which
is essential for beneficiary access.

H.R. 5376 also includes provisions to add hearing aid dispensers as
‘qualified hearing aid professionals’ eligible to provide hearing
assessment services, as allowed by state licensure, subject to any
additional requirements determined by the U.S. Secretary of Health and
Human Services, including those relating to educational certification
or accreditation.

AAA, ADA, and ASHA have stated that they are working with
congressional staff to make recommendations to differentiate hearing
aid dispensers and define hearing aid dispensing services in a manner
congruent with state licensure.

The bill also includes the following hearing related provisions:
  *   Coverage of hearing aids for individuals with moderately severe
to profound hearing loss in one or both ears once every five years if
furnished through a written order by a physician, audiologist, or
other practitioner for devices that are determined appropriate by the
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
  *   Exclusion of hearing aids from competitive bidding when
furnished by a physician or other practitioner to their own patients
as part of a professional service

“While AAA, ADA, and ASHA are pleased with many of the provisions of
this legislation, technical corrections are necessary to improve
beneficiary access to audiology services, and to support consumer
protection, transparency, competition, and patient choice. Our groups
are working to provide assistance and offer these recommendations as
this legislation now moves over for consideration in the Senate. We
will provide further updates on these advocacy efforts as the
legislative process continues to evolve.”

Source: ASHA, AAA,
ADA<https://audiologist.org/item/house-of-representatives-passes-bill-adding-new-medicare-hearing-benefits>


https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearingnewswatch/2021/congress-passes-legislation-medicare-hearing-expansion/

Maggie Stringer
Phone: (443) 750-0070
Email: ravensfan784 at gmail.com
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