House members have overcome the current distance between Republicans and Democrats and introduced H.R. 244, the Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act bill.
The bill would remove a Medicare program provision that now keeps the Original Medicare program from paying for routine hearing exams or hearing aids — in spite of studies suggesting that hearing aids might reduce the risk that people with hearing problems will suffer from depression, cognitive impairment and hospitalization.
Many Medicare Advantage plans already provide some hearing aid coverage, and some Medicare supplement insurance policies offer access to hearing aid discount programs.
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., is the lead sponsor of H.R. 244.
