Hearing aid coverage is focus of Senate bill
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, introduces legislation Oct. 22 to require a Medicare coverage policy to be developed for hearing aids. Hearing aids are currently excluded from Medicare coverage by federal statute. Brown's Medicare Hearing Enhancement and Auditory Rehabilitation Act would eliminate the exclusion and also provide Medicare coverage for auditory rehabilitation services. Separately, on Oct. 20, FDA launched a new 1Web site guide to hearing aids. The site contains general information on different types and styles of hearing aids, steps to obtaining one, types of hearing loss, benefits and safety of the devices and other products, and procedures people can use to improve their hearing