S. 2311 focused on helping America’s Veterans get access to convenient, quality hearing healthcare.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 8, 2014 - The International Hearing Society (IHS) today announced that legislation has been introduced in the United States Senate to improve the hearing healthcare system for America’s Veterans.
Introduced by U.S. Senator Jon Tester of Montana, S. 2311 is designed to ensure that America’s Veterans have convenient, timely access to high quality hearing healthcare. The legislation is a companion bill to H.R. 3508, filed in November 2013 by U.S. Representatives Sean Duffy (WI-07) and Timothy Walz (MN-01). S. 2311 was immediately endorsed by IHS’ “Fit to Serve” initiative, a grassroots campaign focused on Veterans’ hearing health services.
“Fit to Serve thanks Senator Tester for leading the U.S. Senate on this vital issue,” said First Sergeant Matthew Eversmann, U.S. Army (Ret.), National Honorary Spokesperson for Fit to Serve, who suffered hearing loss as a result of combat as depicted in the book and film “Black Hawk Down.” “Improving access to hearing healthcare is critical to ensuring the quality of life and future success of the men and women who have served our country.”
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the two most prevalent service-related disabilities for Veterans are tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing loss. The effect of hearing loss can be devastating to Veterans, particularly as they adjust to a civilian lifestyle, and may contribute to depression, heightened stress, fatigue, and other challenges. For many Veterans, a lack of proper hearing healthcare exacerbates these symptoms, leading to strained relationships and difficulties in maintaining a career.
Despite the VA’s best efforts, the number of Veterans in need of adequate hearing healthcare services is quickly surpassing the VA’s ability to adequately respond. Veterans often face long wait times for appointments, significant travel distances to the nearest VA clinic, and limited follow-up care. Fit to Serve is working to lift existing restrictions in order to allow all qualified hearing aid specialists to, alongside the health care professionals of the VA, provide hearing aid services to Veterans. S. 2311 represents important progress in the fight for better care for America’s Veterans.
The specific objectives of S. 2311 are to:
- Give the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) the ability to hire hearing aid specialists internally to perform hearing aid evaluations and hearing aid fitting and dispensing services
- Require the VA to report annually to Congress on appointment wait times and network provider utilization rates, which will raise awareness of the VA’s work to increase Veterans’ access to local and timely hearing healthcare services
“Every veteran deserves timely, high-quality health care – and that care must adapt to the changing nature of war,” Senator Tester said. “More veterans than ever are returning home with seen and unseen injuries, including hearing loss. The VA must make sure these heroes get the care they need so they can reintegrate into society and support their families and communities.”
“We hope that all members of the United States Senate, both Democrats and Republicans show their commitment for the men and women who have served our nation by supporting S. 2311,” said Eversmann.
About Fit to Serve:
Founded by the International Hearing Society, “Fit To Serve” is a campaign dedicated to improving the hearing healthcare system for America’s Veterans. Our goal is to ensure timely access to high quality hearing health care for all Veterans. We are committed to serving the Veterans who have served all of us. Learn more by visiting www.fittoserve.us or www.facebook.com/ihsfittoserve.
