Bill Would Allow Medicare Patients Direct Access To Audiologists
(Rockville, MD - November 14, 2007) The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) applauds Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), along with Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) for reintroducing the Medicare Hearing Health Care Enhancement Act of 2007 which would allow Medicare patients direct access to audiologists. The House version of direct access, H.R. 1665, which was introduced by Representative Mike Ross (D-AR) on March 23, 2007, already has 63 cosponsors.
The direct access bill would allow Medicare beneficiaries the option of going directly to a qualified audiologist for hearing and balance diagnostic tests. Currently, Medicare beneficiaries with hearing loss or balance disorders are required to obtain a physician referral before they see an audiologist. Also, the Medicare Hearing Health Care Enhancement Act calls for aligning Medicare "direct access" with programs administered by the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Veterans Affairs, which allow patients to see an audiologist without a physician referral.
"Direct access is one of ASHA's most important legislative goals and our audiologists and speech-language pathologists have been lobbying hard side-by-side all year on this issue." ASHA 2007 President Noma Anderson observes. "Senator Johnson has been a long-time supporter of our members and their patients and we thank him for that and wish him well."
Last December, Senator Johnson suffered a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AMV) that nearly killed him. Since then, he has received extensive speech-language pathology care and physical and occupational therapy. The direct access bill is one of the first bills he's reintroduced since he returned to the Senate.
"This legislation is consumer friendly." Senator Johnson says. "It will help our elderly and rural citizens who often find it difficult to access health care services, and I'm proud to sponsor it." An extensive interview with Senator Johnson appeared in the November 6, 2007 edition of the ASHA Leader.
ASHA is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 127,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists in the United States and internationally. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders. For more information on speech, language, and hearing disorders, consumers can log on to www.asha.org or call 1-800-638-TALK.
