On July 16, 2021, the Nova Southeastern University Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) chapter held their annual Capitol Hill Day through a completely virtual format. Students and professors started out the day with an advocacy overview with the Academy’s Senior Director of Government Relations Susan Pilch, JD.

Students, professors, and Academy staff then attended virtual meetings with the offices of five senators and one congressman: Senator Cornyn (TX), Senator King (ME), Senator Gillibrand (NY), Senator Warnock (GA), Senator Toomey (PA), and Representative Golden (ME). During these meetings, Nova student audiologists focused on highlighting the importance of the Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act (MAASA) of 2021 (H.R. 1587/S. 1731).

They impressed upon the members of these congressional offices that this legislation would modernize how Medicare approaches audiology and would: re-classify audiologists from “supplier” to “practitioner,” allow audiologists to provide and be reimbursed for both diagnostic and treatment services, and allow beneficiaries to directly access the services of an audiologist.

The student audiologists also provided an overview and highlighted the key points of the Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act (H.R. 3320/S. 1679) and Ally’s Act (H.R. 477/S. 41). This was the first visit with Capitol Hill staff for many of the students and they were very pleased to be able to advocate for the profession of audiology and share their points of view.

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