Federal Affairs

The Academy's federal legislative and regulatory activities seek to educate and shape national policies regarding hearing health-care issues and to assist in achieving the Academy's advocacy goals.

Legislative
Regulatory

Legislative

The Academy represents the interests of audiologists on federal legislative matters impacting the practice of audiology by monitoring the activities of the U.S. Congress. The Academy strives to keep its members updated on current legislation, while engaging lawmakers on key issues to ensure the voice of audiology is heard on Capitol Hill.

Legislative Initiatives in the 117th Congress

The Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act (Joint Bill: Academy, ASHA and ADA)

The Academy has been working collaboratively with ASHA and ADA on this legislation that will:

Give audiologists additional opportunities under Medicare by reclassification as “practitioners,”
Allow for direct access by Medicare patients to audiologists, and
Expand covered audiologic services beyond diagnosis to include treatment.

This major legislative initiative will help align audiologists with other doctoral-level health professionals under the Medicare program. Being classified as a practitioner under the Medicare program also grants audiologists the ability to opt-out of Medicare should they so choose.

Read the Academy's Issue Brief on the Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act.

The Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act

This legislation would make scholarships/stipends available to students typically underrepresented in audiology as well as occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and physical therapy. The Academy worked to include language that includes ACAE accredited programs as eligible educational entities and specifies the Academy as an organization charged with the disbursement of funds. This legislation passed the House of Representatives in the 116th Congress and will be reintroduced imminently.

Ally’s Act - H.R. 477/S.41

This legislation would mandate private insurance coverage of auditory implant devices (cochlear implants and bone anchored hearing aids) and external sound processors as deemed necessary for an individual by a physician or an audiologist.

The Academy provided amendment language to the bill (that was accepted) to add coverage for multiple audiological appointments, coverage for “aural rehabilitation and treatment services” and reference to “qualified audiologist” (Medicare definition)

Regulatory

The Academy represents the interests of audiologists in Washington on federal regulatory matters that affect audiologists and the patients they serve. A myriad of federal agencies touch the profession of audiology and more broadly hearing and balance health care, such as CMS, FDA, HHS, FCC, NIH, and more. The Academy continuously monitors the activities of federal agencies and engages with them, both in-person and through written communications, to represent the interests of Academy members. The committees within the Academy that focus on these activities (GRC, CRC, and PPAC) inform the Academy’s position on emerging topics and provide updates to members. Current areas of focus:

FDA Proposed Rule: Medical Devices, ENT Devices, and OTC Hearing Aids
Academy response to FDA Proposed Rule on OTC Hearing Aids - to review the Academy's comments, login at the top of the page, and a Download PDF button will appear below.
At-A-Glance Comparison of FDAR with FDA Proposed Rule
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
OTC and DTC Hearing Aids: Academy Efforts and Member Resources

Legislative

Legislative Initiatives in the 117th Congress

Regulatory

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Legislative Initiatives in the 117th Congress