The Academy, along with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and other key allied health groups, met today with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, to discuss options to expand access to health care.
Academy Executive Director Patrick Gallagher highlighted how the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (H.R. 6445/S. 2377) will expand access by allowing patients to seek audiology services directly from audiologists and also to receive additional treatment services, without adding the delay of a referral, by modernizing Medicare rules. Senator Wyden, who has a long track record of advocating for better health care for families, promoted constituent messaging about expanded access as a strategy to push for a “health care lame duck.”

Audiologists can support our efforts to get the MAAIA passed in the lame duck by reaching out to their members of Congress now while they are back in their states and districts. Please visit the Legislative Action Center to send a message to your members of Congress today!
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