Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015 Introduced by Representative Bilirakis.
Rockville, MD - February 27, 2015 - The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) lauds the introduction of the Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act of 2015 (HR 1116) this week. The bill would provide Medicare beneficiaries greater access to audiology services and would increase opportunities for audiologists to treat their patients.
Introduced February 26 by U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and co-sponsored by Representative G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), the proposed legislation would give Medicare beneficiaries access to audiologists for both diagnostic and treatment services similar to those already available from other practitioners. The bill aligns audiologists with the managed-care direction of healthcare and, at the same time, has a negligible impact on costs to the healthcare system. This is critical for its ability to pass within the current regulatory and legislative environment.
"This bill would grant Medicare patients coverage for the full range of professional services provided by audiologists," said ASHA President Judith L. Page, PhD, CCC-SLP. "ASHA has been tirelessly working to expand access to audiology services available under Medicare, and we applaud Congressman Bilirakis for his leadership."
HR 1116 would allow audiologists to bill for hearing and balance assessment services, auditory treatment services (including auditory processing and auditory rehabilitation treatment), vestibular treatment and intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring. Also, the proposed legislation would provide Medicare coverage of comprehensive audiology services in coordination with current billing and reimbursement standards, consistent with other non-physician services covered by Medicare.
About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 182,000 audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems, including swallowing disorders. www.asha.org/
View all ASHA press releases at www.asha.org/about/news.
