Federal legislation has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, known as the "Hearing Health Accessibility Act of 2003" (H.R. Bill 2821 and S. 1647), that would allow Medicare patients direct access to audiologists for diagnostic hearing and balance tests. Currently, you need a physician's referral for a hearing test. The vast majority of hearing loss (90-95%) is not medically or surgically treatable; however, testing by an audiologist is almost always necessary to determine the nature and extent of hearing loss. When conditions exist that do require medical attention, audiologists have the knowledge and tools to identify them and to make the proper medical referral.

If the bill passes, you would no longer be required to obtain a note from your doctor for a hearing test. Other legislation has been introduced that would give Medicare patients a $500 tax credit per ear on the purchase of new hearing instruments.

We need your help! We are strongly supporting both bills and asking our patients to do the same by sending letters to their Congressmen or Congresswomen and their Senators. Sample letters are available in our office.