A Broad Examination of Health Policy Barriers to Access and Affordability of Hearing Treatment for Medicare Beneficiaries

• Published in: Seminars in hearing Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 013 - 019
• Main Authors: Myers, Clarice, Reed, Nicholas S., Lin, Frank R., Willink, Amber
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc 01.02.2022; Thieme Medical Publishers Inc
• Series: Hearing Health Policy and Advocacy
• Subjects: Adults; Health care policy; Hearing aids; Hearing disorders; Hearing loss; Medicine; Older people; Review; Review Article; health policy; access to care; Medicare; costs of care; hearing care
• ISSN: 0734-0451; 1098-8955
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743122

Abstract In 2016, the National Academies on Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released a report titled, “Hearing Health Care for Adults,” which detailed the challenges and provided recommendations for improving the access to affordable hearing care for adults in the United States. Arguably the most significant outcome from this report was the subsequent passage of the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act in 2017, which requires the Food and Drug Administration to develop regulations for a class of hearing aids that address mild to moderate hearing loss to be available for sale over the counter (OTC). While this presents an important step toward improving access and affordability of hearing treatment, it does not represent a complete solution. In fact, optimizing the new landscape of hearing care for individuals with hearing loss also may require new policy solutions. This article reflects on the progress achieved since the NASEM report and the policy issues that remain to improve accessibility and affordability of hearing care among older adults.