National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Releases Long-Awaited Report, Hearing Health Care for Adults: Priorities for Improving Access and Affordability

The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, today, released a long-awaited report, Hearing Health Care for Adults: Priorities for Improving Access and Affordability.

The committee that carried out the study and wrote the report called for greater transparency and changes in the cost of hearing health care and expanded treatment options given the number of Americans who have hearing loss and the high cost of hearing health care.  View the press release.

This landmark report supports ADA recommendations to improve access to safe, effective and affordable hearing care, including:
  • The recommendation that public health agencies and private organizations place greater emphasis on improving population-based information on hearing loss, associated co-morbidities, the importance of hearing health care and the promotion of community-based actions to support and manage hearing health and communication
  • The recommendation that audiologists be reimbursed by Medicare for the services that they are licensed to provide (contained in the Audiology Patient Choice Act)
  • The recommendation that the FDA remove barriers to access including the requirement for a medical evaluation prior to the purchase of a hearing aid and to create an over-the-counter category of hearing device for those adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss
  • That CMS and other agencies implement innovative models of hearing health care including patients to have direct access to audiology services (contained in the Audiology Patient Choice Act)
  • Increased transparency with regard to the cost of hearing healthcare through  itemization and unbundling
  • Increased portability for patient records, audio profiles and hearing device software
 
“On its face, ADA is extremely pleased with the findings put forward by the Committee, and we look forward to reviewing them in greater detail to make a more detailed assessment,” said ADA President, Dr. Rita Chaiken. “These findings and recommendations will undoubtedly have a significant impact on hearing healthcare in the future.”
 
Quick Links to view Information from the Committee:  
Related ADA Recommendations: ADA leaders will further examine the report findings and recommendations in detail over the coming weeks and will provide additional information to ADA members as it becomes available.