Stories

Duffy bill to improve veterans’ access to hearing health care signed into law

A measure led by U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) to help veterans have better access to hearing services was signed into law by President Barack Obama as part of the larger Veterans Safety Mobility Act.

Duffy’s Veterans Access to Hearing Health Act will increase flexibility by adding hearing instrument specialists to the list of providers the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is allowed to use to meet veterans’ hearing needs. The VA currently only allows the use of audiology doctors for hearing issues.

“I’ve talked with veterans in my district who drive up to 90 miles to get hearing health care from a VA audiologist, but with this bill now signed into law, they can receive the same care from a local hearing aid specialist. Our men and women in uniform deserve options in health care when they return home,” Duffy said.

The number of veterans suffering from hearing and audiology issues is increasing at a rate of 10 percent per year at the VA.

Duffy said this bill was a step in the right direction to providing much-needed reforms at the VA. By providing more options for veterans to receive hearing health care, the measure aims to decrease wait times and free up VA audiologists for more complex cases.

Language from Duffy’s bill, H.R. 353, was included in the Veterans Safety Mobility Act, H.R. 3471.

 

Ripon Advance News Service

Recent Posts

Collins proposes bipartisan Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act

New bipartisan legislation offered by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) aims to reduce the medical…

8 hours ago

Young, Rounds release AI policy roadmap

U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Todd Young (R-IN), members of the Bipartisan Senate AI…

8 hours ago

Garbarino sponsors bipartisan bill to support wildlife rescue, rehab

U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) sponsored a bipartisan bill that would support rescue, rehabilitation, reintroduction,…

8 hours ago

Pfluger’s bill protects property rights of U.S. companies operating abroad

U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) on May 15 led a bipartisan bill that aims to…

8 hours ago

Smucker’s Foreign Grant Reporting Act heads to full House for vote

The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on May 15 voted unanimously to approve legislation…

9 hours ago

Federal Election Campaign Act introduced by Steil, Bice

U.S. Reps. Bryan Steil (R-WI) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) this week offered legislation to bolster…

9 hours ago

This website uses cookies.