Richard E. Gans, Ph.D., President, American Academy of Audiology2005 presents several exciting opportunities for the profession of Audiology and the patients we serve.
First, the Welcome to Medicare Preventive Exam identifies the critical importance of the hearing and balance function. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) have included hearing and balance questions as an integral part of the 12-point examination for new Medicare enrollees.
The Academy was pleased to have provided CMS with guidance regarding appropriate standardized clinimetrics and patient questionnaires to be used by primary care physicians (PCPs). CMS does not intend for PCPs to do screening tests or examinations, such as pure tone screening, watch tick tests etc. but preferred PCPs to have a method of questioning their patients to red flag those who require additional evaluation or are at risk.
For decades, Audiologists have pondered how to promote PCPs to recognize the importance of hearing and balance function on the quality of life of older adults. This CMS initiative offers a significant start in that direction. The Academy Marketing Committee has provided an outstanding array of information, materials and clinimetrics which are linked to this message and is on the Academy Web site for member access.
I encourage you to access and use these tools as you continue to educate PCPs about the benefits of Audiologic care for their patients.
Direct Access
The Hearing Health Accessibility Act (Direct Access) was introduced in July 2003 during the 108th Congress. The bills sought to change the Social Security Act to allow Medicare patients the option of seeking care from an audiologist as well as a physician. It is not a change in scope of practice. It merely brings federal policy into a uniformed manner as Veterans and enrollees in the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan, now have that option.
We had much success and visibility in the 108th Congress with over 50 co-sponsors in the House and 5 in the Senate. There were however, no bills to attach it to by the end of the 108th Congress. If a bill does not become a law during the session (a session of Congress is two years) it is introduced in, then the bill must be re-introduced in the next Congress. The new 109th Congress will convene later this month. We believe we will keep virtually all our co-sponsors and gain quite a few more as momentum continues to build. This means we must continue our efforts to see the bill become law. We are well positioned based on the considerable work that was done by the Academy staff, leadership and members during the last Congress.
On Wednesday, January 5, 2005, Academy leadership and staff met with the key staff of the bill's sponsors, Representative Jim Ryun (R-KS) and Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD). We concluded the day with a meeting at the White House to discuss the bill with Presidential policy advisors.
Representative Ryun and Senator Johnson will introduce the bills later this month. They will be assigned numbers, which will be different than those used during the 108th Congress. The Academy will alert Academy members when to renew the advocacy campaign that was so successful last year. This will include letters, calls, and emails to your Congressional Representatives and Senators as well as from your patients.
Much of the success we enjoyed during the last Congress was due to the fact that we had Political Action Committee (PAC) money allowing us greater access to legislators. Our efforts cannot stop with our successes of the last Congress. We need to recommit our dedication to seeing the bill become law in the 109th. At the Academy's 2004 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, I asked for the help of 9400 mosquitoes. I am pleased to report that the Academy now has over 9700 mosquitoes. We need you and we need you now. Could 2005 be the year of the mosquito...I certainly hope so!
From AAA AT Extra
