Dear Colleague,
I am pleased to report that the Hearing Health Accessibility Act has been introduced into the 109th Congress. It was introduced by Representative Ryun (R-KS) and a host of cosponsors on January 26th and Senators Johnson (D-SD), DeWine (R-OH) and Harkin (D-IA) on February 3rd. We are also pleased that Senator Specter recently signed on in support of the Senate bill. It has been assigned numbers HR 415 and S 277 in the House and Senate respectively.
I am asking that all Academy members help build momentum for this bill by immediately faxing, writing, calling and emailing your Congressional representatives. This must be done NOW. Faxing letters on your letterhead is the preferred manner however, if this is not possible, we encourage you to contact Congress in whatever manner you can.
Last year, at Convention 2004's opening ceremony in Salt Lake City, I said that if you thought you were too small to make a difference, just think about trying to go to sleep in a room with a mosquito in it. I said we needed 9700 mosquitoes. We need you now.... SWARM!
What you need to do.
Go to the Academy Government Relations - direct access web page at www.audiology.org/professional/gov/da.php for sample letters. If your Member of Congress supported the bill during the last session, ask for his/her support again. If they were not a co-sponsor, ask for their support now. It is critical that you emphasize that this will merely allow a choice for Medicare enrollees. Currently, Members of Congress and their staff have direct access to audiologists. Isn't it fair that Medicare enrollees have the same access?! The physician groups state that it will be dangerous and costly to allow direct access. If it is not dangerous for a US Representative or Senator to see an audiologist, why is it dangerous for a Medicare enrollee? More importantly, numerous Managed Care Organizations such as United Health Care have allowed direct access to audiologists for over a decade and have found it to be good business and good medicine. It saves money while allowing excellent care for patients.
Contact the Academy's Health Policy Department if you require further assistance, 703-226-1032.
Richard E. Gans, Ph.D., President
American Academy of Audiology
We need you now....SWARM!
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