Academy, ADA, and ASHA Announce the Introduction of MAAIA in the Senate

The American Academy of Audiology, Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA), and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) are pleased to announce the introduction of the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (MAAIA), S. 1996, in the United States Senate! We applaud Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for championing this legislation to remove unnecessary barriers to access to audiology services for seniors and other Medicare Part B beneficiaries.

The Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (H.R. 2757/S. 1996) will:

• Eliminate pre-treatment order requirements so beneficiaries have streamlined access to audiologists, saving seniors out of pocket costs for extra office visits.
• Support continuity of care by authorizing audiologists to be reimbursed for the Medicare-covered diagnostic and treatment services that they are licensed to provide.
• Reclassify audiologists as practitioners under the Medicare statute, enabling services to be furnished through telehealth beyond the current September 30, 2025, expiration of such authority.

We look forward to working together and with bill champions to advance the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act in Congress, so that Medicare Part B beneficiaries have timely access to the audiology care that they need, when they need it the most.