Hearing Device Accessibility Improved, Yet Patient Safety Concerns Remain.
ALEXANDRIA, VA —The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) appreciates the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Committee on Accessible and Affordable Hearing Health Care for Adults for its work to identify pathways to improve the accessibility and affordability of hearing healthcare services and devices.
“The introduction of over-the-counter (OTC) wearable hearing devices into the marketplace, as well as the broader availability of Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs), will benefit many patients who have hearing loss,” said James C. Denneny III, MD, Executive Vice President and CEO of the AAO-HNS.
“While the Academy is pleased the Committee did not recommend changes to Medicare’s current physician referral requirements, the IOM has made a recommendation to remove the medical evaluation or waiver requirement for non-Medicare patients seeking hearing aids. We believe this recommendation is counter to current reform efforts by policymakers to ensure quality and safety.”
The Academy continues to encourage patients of all ages—not just senior citizens—to seek a medical evaluation from a physician to rule out any treatable causes of hearing loss or an underlying medical condition prior to purchasing any hearing device or aid, regardless if it is obtained OTC or via a hearing healthcare provider.
The AAO-HNS is on the cutting edge of efforts to improve quality, safety, and patient outcomes, as evidenced by its development of Regent℠, a clinical data registry to aid in the collection and analysis of data sought in this report.
“We hope today’s report will help advance efforts to ensure patients can obtain safe, affordable, high-quality hearing healthcare with appropriate medical intervention based on the type and severity of their hearing loss.”
For more information about the Academy’s position on this issue, click here.
About the AAO-HNS
The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents about 12,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization's vision: "Empowering otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons to deliver the best patient care."
Source: https://www.entnet.org
