Is Medicare going to cover hearing aids?

We’re really looking forward to this year’s holiday season. For some of us, it will be a long awaited reunion with family members after skipping last year’s festivities due to the pandemic. For many, this year just seems to be a little extra special as we prepare to connect with some of our favorite people.

While this time of year is exciting for most, it can be a daunting experience for those with hearing loss. People with hearing loss already have a disadvantage when it comes to effective communication. Holidays make it even more challenging with the sheer volume of conversations, distractions, and background noise. The very thought of a room full of people catching up and telling stories can be stressful. It’s hard to process all of the communication, especially when there are several conversations happening at once. Even family members and loved ones who don’t have hearing loss can be faced with communication obstacles.

In this month’s issue of our newsletter, Longmont audiologist, Dr. Shawna Beasley, shares a few suggestions for those with hearing loss to communicate more effectively with one another during the holiday season. These tips can be helpful for the family too! And considering she has been hearing impaired since childhood and utilizes two cochlear implants, she knows what she’s talking about!

One of Dr. Shawna’s tips has to do with clear face masks. Watch the video tutorial here.

We’re also adding a special article addressing some of the recent legislation regarding hearing aids and hearing aid benefits. Rumor has it that Medicare is going to cover hearing aids and that Bose and Apple are about to throw their hats in the ring as hearing aid manufacturers! We’ll help you decipher the new legislation and what it will mean for you

Happy holidays and thanks for being a valued member of our extended family.

The holidays may look a little different due to the pandemic, but we are seeing an increase in family gatherings and events. You may be feeling excited but also overwhelmed with the thought of attending a larger family gathering. Even under the best of circumstances, these events can bring uncertainty as we don’t know what the environment will be like. When you have hearing loss, it can be worse.

Will the music be too loud?

How many people will be there? Will it be dark in the room? These are just a few questions you might be thinking. Hearing well at family gatherings or events is what keeps everyone connected. Below are some tips and tricks to try next time you attend a family gathering.

Advocate
Let your family know that it’s been a while since you have been in a group gathering and you are feeling a little anxious. Advocating for yourself allows others to understand so they can better prepare the event. Provide any suggestions you think will help you feel more comfortable such as having a round table, good lighting, low or no music, older kids in a separate room, etc.

Going to a big restaurant may be too noisy and make you want to bail. If you don’t have a choice in the location, ask if there is a small party room you could reserve instead of sitting in the main area.

Ask for clarification
Hearing with hearing aids is not going to give you 100% speech understanding. There will be times you misunderstand something. Ask family members to rephrase rather than repeat and try not to get frustrated.

Ask if face masks will be required
Some people might find this to be a weird question, but when it comes to communication, visual cues are often hidden behind a face mask. Suggest a see-through face mask so you can still read lips.

This will create a new class of hearing devices that will be sold over-the-counter (OTC) without a hearing evaluation or physical examination with an audiologist or other hearing professional. The purpose of this bill is to make amplifying devices more accessible or easier to purchase.

Currently the term ‘hearing aid’ has been protected indicating a device that meets Class A medical device standards by the FDA. This legislation will remove that protection and allow the term ‘hearing aid’ to be used by a wider variety of sound amplifying products.

OTC products will be intended for patients with PERCEIVED mild to moderate hearing loss, although there will not be confirmation of the degree of loss since no hearing evaluation is required.

OTC products will be only intended for adults over 18 years old.

OTC products will be available at the grocery store, big box stores, drug stores, online, etc. There have been devices called Personal Sound Amplifier Products (PSAPs) that have already been available through these channels.

OTC products will be required to be labeled as OTC products, while devices fit by professionals will be called “prescriptive hearing devices”.

OTC products will NOT be required to have volume limits which means users could accidentally experience damaging noise levels.

OTC products will NOT come with in-person, hands-on professional help. They may have apps or other ‘self-fitting’ mechanisms or online professional services available.

Statistically, people with hearing loss wait 4-7 years from the time they suspect a hearing problem before seeking treatment. We see these devices as bridging the gap and shortening the time people wait. However, as with everything, there could be risks to self-diagnosis and self-treatment with these products. Once these products become available, our recommendation is to seek a professional hearing evaluation to rule out earwax, asymmetrical hearing loss, or other medically treatable conditions before deciding to pursue an Over The Counter device.

In mid-November, the House of Representatives passed an amended version of the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376) that was introduced by President Biden earlier this fall. In it are specific provisions related to hearing aid coverage that could impact Medicare recipients.

If passed in the current form, it would provide coverage for hearing aids for Medicare patients with severe to profound hearing loss once every 5 years, when furnished with a written order from an audiologist or other qualified professional.

A severe to profound hearing loss is defined as an average of 70dB loss or greater and is more significant than the majority of our patients experience. So while this would be very helpful to people with severe hearing difficulties, this proposal will not include many of our existing patients.

What is not clear is how those benefits would be implemented. As of now, there is no information available such as what level of technology would be covered, if a patient could opt to upgrade to better technology or would only qualify for certain approved devices. We also don’t know if any related services would be included, and if the benefit would be accessible directly through a hearing professional or would require a 3rd party administrator.

If passed, the benefits would likely not go into effect until early 2024.

We believe that bringing attention to the growing need for hearing care is a good thing! Efforts being made to include hearing care for even some of the large number of folks who need it are a welcome step in the right direction. We will be watching this legislation closely and keeping you informed.

Rhonda Collins
Patient Liaison

Rhonda didn't know much about audiology when she joined us in 2020, but she knew she loved helping people and especially older adults. She is the perfect fit at Hearing HealthCare Centers as our Patient Liaison, working in the Longmont office.

Rhonda loves riding her motorcycle for thousands of miles every year. She even brings her dog along for rides!

If you ever have general questions about Hearing HealthCare Centers and would like to speak directly with Rhonda, feel free to give her a call at 303-558-5811. This is our main phone line, but 99% of the time it will be Rhonda who answers your call with a smile that you can hear, always ready to help.

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