Citation
Planey, Arrianna Marie (2019). Audiology Service Accessibility and the Health Policy Landscape.
The Hearing Journal, 72, 10.
Abstract
While the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Act promises to make hearing aids more affordable for people with mild to mild-to-moderate hearing loss, barriers to audiologist service accessibility remain. Audiologists are well-acquainted with the health care policy landscape that they navigate as allied health care providers between state licensing regulations and federal health policy effects on their practice. Classified as “non-physician providers,” audiology services are not typically covered by Medicare beyond physician-referred assessments in support of a diagnosis. Because the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the de facto regulator of health care, many private health insurance plans follow suit. In the absence of Medicare and—in most states—Medicaid coverage, audiology services are not affordable for many older adults who complain of hearing and balance-related issues. This results in low utilization. More than two-thirds of older adults report that they have not had their hearing tested in the last decade, and one in three did not use audiologist services—even after a primary care provider referral—due to cost in the absence of insurance coverage. Furthermore, hearing aid uptake in older adults with hearing loss is low and concentrated in high-income households.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.HJ.0000557744.28152.45Reference Type
Journal Article
Year Published
2019
Journal Title
The Hearing Journal
Author(s)
Planey, Arrianna Marie
Article Type
Regular
Continent/Country
United States
State
Nonspecific
ORCiD
Planey - 0000-0003-4739-090X
