The Honorable Jim R. Ryun
U.S. House of Representatives
1110 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative Ryun:
On behalf of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, SHHH, the foremost consumer organization for people with hearing loss in the United States, I thank you for your leadership in introducing the Hearing Health Accessibility Act of 2003 (HR 415). SHHH supports this important legislation.
Medicare beneficiaries with hearing loss would benefit from the option that allows them to see either a physician or an audiologist first for their hearing health needs. This direct access would give consumers choice and therefore improve access to hearing care while at the same time prove less costly to Medicare.
The legislation would also bring Medicare into line with the policies of other Federal health programs, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Office of Personnel Management, that already allow direct access to audiologists.
Thank you for your dedication to expanding access for consumers to hearing health as demonstrated by this proposed legislation and through your active role as co-chair of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus.
