FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Contact: Hannah Rehm
Hannah.Rehm@mail.house.gov

Rep. Neguse Reintroduces “Ally’s Act,” Bipartisan Bill Inspired By 13-Year-Old Constituent, to Expand Access to Specialized Hearing

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO) announced the introduction of “Ally’s Act,” H.R. 2439, his bicameral, bipartisan legislation to ensure private insurance companies cover osseointegrated hearing devices (“OIDs”), including bone anchored hearing aids (“BAHA”) and cochlear implants. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joined the reintroduction (S. 1135). A 13-year-old Coloradan, Ally, who was born without a right ear or hearing canal and requires the use of a BAHA, inspired the bill.

After Ally’s insurance company denied coverage of her hearing device, her mother, Melissa Tumblin, formed the organization Ear Community to advocate for insurance coverage of these devices to ensure no person is left unable to hear because of private insurance companies’ refusal to provide coverage. During his first term in Congress, Congressman. Neguse received a letter from Ally detailing her circumstances; after learning about her situation Congressman Neguse introduced legislation to expand coverage for Americans like Ally.

“For Ally and for countless Americans across this nation, specialized hearing devices are critical for communicating. For insurance companies to deny coverage for these essential devices is unconscionable. We must continue to push for the enactment of this legislation to expand critical care for so many. I am thankful to Ally and her family for bringing this issue to our attention, and proud to continue the fight,” said Congressman Joe Neguse.

“When an insurance provider denies coverage for a child or adult to obtain a bone conduction hearing device or cochlear implant, the opportunity for communication and to pursue certain careers is taken away. It is imperative that private insurers provide access to these types of hearing devices, including the necessary hearing health care that is associated with them. Ally’s Act would ensure coverage for these hearing devices, improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, “ said Melissa Tumblin, Ally’s Mother and the Founder and Executive Director of Ear Community.

The bill is widely supported, with many individuals born with microtia and atresia calling on lawmakers to get Ally’s Act passed.

Shannon Culbertson is an audiologist who was born with bilateral microtia and atresia–meaning both ears and ear canals are missing. Culbertson chose her career because she wanted to help others with hearing loss. On the reintroduction of Ally’s Act Shannon Culbertson, Au.D. and Ear Community Board Member, stated: “As an audiologist that wears a bone conduction hearing device, I have personally felt the frustration of insurance denying coverage for my ability to access communication in my everyday environment. Insurance coverage should not dictate who has access to sound. Ally’s Act will improve the quality of life and peace of mind for individuals and families that rely on these devices for spoken language”.

Rep. Neguse and his colleagues introduced this legislation in both the 116th and 117th sessions of Congress.

“Hearing loss challenges millions of Americans every year, and access to these devices can vastly improve quality of life,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will make a difference for those suffering from hearing loss.”

“Millions of Americans experience disabling hearing loss and having access to hearing implants is essential to the well-being of those who experience varying levels of deafness,” said Congressman Thompson. “As one of those Americans who lives with hearing loss, I am proud to reintroduce Ally’s Act with Reps. Neguse and Fitzpatrick and Senators Warren and Capito to make sure that private insurance covers needed hearing technologies. This bill will help to secure a bright future for American children who have experienced hearing loss.”

“Auditory implant devices and external sound processors can be life-changing for individuals who suffer from severe hearing loss. That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce Ally’s Act, legislation that would ensure insurance companies cover these hearing aids and provide relief to those born with hearing loss and their families. Our senses are something we too often take for granted, and I will continue to work to establish better access to these critical hearing devices,” Senator Capito said.

“Too many people across the United States can’t access critical and life-changing hearing devices because they just can’t afford them,” said Senator Warren. “I wrote the bill that made hearing aids available over-the-counter, and I am excited to reintroduce a bipartisan bill that will ask insurers to chip in so those who need specialized hearing devices can access them.”

Find more information on the bill HERE and bill text at HERE.

This bill is endorsed by over 55 advocacy, academic, and non-profit organizations, including Ear Community; American Academy of Audiology; American Cochlear Implant Alliance; American Pediatric Surgical Association; American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Otolaryngology; Harvard Medical School – Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Otolaryngology; Hearing Industries Association; Hearing Loss Association of America; Hearing Health Foundation; Johns Hopkins Cochlear Implant Center, National Rural Health Association; New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai; Stanford Microtia and Atresia Clinic; and University of California San Francisco Medical School.

The full list of endorsements can be found below here

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On January 30th, 2023, the Ear Community Organization launched a new hearing health care program, called Pax’s Ear Fund, that is helping give the gift of hearing in many ways! Since the launch of the new hearing health program, three children in the microtia and aural atresia community have already benefited from this wonderful fund! Melissa Tumblin, Founder and Executive Director of the Ear Community stated, “When insurance companies deny coverage for the service fee that is required to fit and program hearing devices to a patient’s specific level of hearing loss, this takes away the opportunity for patients to hear. Children and adults end up having to do without.” While there are codes in place for fitting and programming traditional hearing aids and cochlear implants, there is not a code for programming Bone Anchored Hearing Systems.

The good that Pax’s Ear Fund provides to the microtia and atresia community is two-fold. This fund not only gives patients the opportunity to hear despite being denied coverage for this service by their insurers, but also gives audiologists the opportunity to still provide the gift of hearing to patients in need. The Ear Community is happy help three children so far this year! As a result, we hope these children will continue thriving in the school classroom and in their communities hearing their best! Pax’s Ear Fund also helps adults too!

It is Ear Community’s goal to help as many children and adults to hear their best as much as possible. Pax’s Ear Fund is made possible by a sweet little boy named Pax who was born with microtia and atresia. Pax and his family know how important it is to help provide the gift of hearing to those in need. Ear Community is grateful for Pax’s Ear Fund! Pax’s fund gives Ear Community the opportunity to help give back to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community when helping members of the microtia and atresia community thrive.

Below are our recipients who have benefited from Pax’s Ear Fund so far.  A special thank you to Dr. Rachel Goldsmith at The Listening Center at GA Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists and to Dr. Kim Block at Lakeside Audiology in South Carolina for helping find one more way to help your patients in need!

Thank you,
Ear Community
EarCommunity.org

Meet Emma! Emma is a sweet little girl who was born with microtia and aural atresia of her left ear, with varying degrees of bilateral hearing loss. Did I mention that she is also an amazing competitive dancer, enjoys listening to music and carrying on with her friends?

Emma was in need of a hearing device to help her hear better when her family’s insurer denied the coverage for her hearing device. That’s when Emma’s mom, Kathy, reached out to Ear Community for help. Emma’s insurance provider denied coverage for the hearing device she needed, a bone anchored hearing aid, also known as a bone conduction hearing system. Ear Community was able to help Emma with the gift of hearing by donating a gently used Oticon Medical Ponto 3SP! When Emma’s family went to schedule her fitting to have her hearing device programmed, her insurer also denied the audiology programming claim that would program Emma’s hearing device to her hearing loss. Thankfully, Ear Community was able to help Emma again!

Recently, Ear Community launched a new hearing health care reimbursement program for audiologists called Pax’s Ear Fund. Pax’s Ear Fund reimburses audiologists for the fitting/programming fee when the service is denied under CPT code L9900, which is often denied by insurers. Pax’s Ear Fund helps audiologists give the gift of hearing when microtia and atresia patients are denied coverage by their insurers, allowing them to still give the gift of hearing. Most families cannot afford the fitting/programming fee out of pocket when this service is denied.

Today, on March 8th, 2023, Emma, was able to have her Ponto fitting thanks to Pax’s Ear Fund covering the programming fee for her audiologist. Emma is the first recipient to benefit from Pax’s Ear Fund! A special thanks to her audiologist, Dr. Kim Block of Lakeside Audiology in South Carolina, for programming Emma’s Ponto and for being able to help a patient benefit through Ear Community’s new hearing fund!

It is Ear Community’s goal to help as many children and adults to hear their best as much as possible. Pax’s Ear Fund is made possible by a sweet little boy named Pax who was born with microtia and atresia. Pax and his family know how important it is to help provide the gift of hearing to those in need. Ear Community is grateful for Pax’s Ear Fund! Pax’s fund gives Ear Community the opportunity to help give back to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community when helping members of the microtia and atresia community thrive. A special thank you to the William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation for their amazing support to our organization!

For more information on Pax’s Ear Fund, please click here.

All of us at the Ear Community Organization are so happy for Emma to be able to hear her best! We hope you keep dancing and smiling while you hear every sound, never missing a beat, Emma!
Thank you,
Melissa Tumblin
Founder – Executive Director
Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org

LONE TREE, Colo., Feb. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Ahead of International Cochlear Implant Day (February 25, 2023), Cochlear is announcing that it will now offer Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) support on compatible Fire TV devices for people living with hearing implant technology. The advancement represents the first time that a smart TV device will stream sound directly to a hearing implant sound processor.

Peter Korn, Director of Accessibility for Devices at Amazon, said, “We’re delighted by our customers’ response to the innovations we’ve made in the entertainment space for people with hearing loss, even as we continue to build solutions that make entertainment more enjoyable for all customers. Now, by working with Cochlear, we’re thrilled that more people will have a simple way to enjoy their favorite TV shows, movies, and more. Entertainment should be accessible to everyone. This is one more way to help make that goal a reality.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1.5 billion people globally live with hearing loss.¹ By 2026, more than half (51%) of all households worldwide are predicted to own a smart TV.² International Cochlear Implant Day (CI Day) has taken place every year on February 25 since 2009, helping to raise awareness of hearing implants and to celebrate the achievements of people using the technology.

How it works

Cochlear has configured direct streaming from Fire TV to Cochlear Nucleus® 8, Nucleus 7, Nucleus Kanso® 2, and Baha® 6 Max Sound Processors. With ASHA, sound processors connect with the Fire TV device at the system level, so customers can enjoy audio from their favorite streaming apps, use Alexa, listen to music, navigational sounds, and more.

ASHA-enabled Fire TV devices include: Fire TV Omni QLED Series, Fire TV Omni Series, Fire TV 4-Series, Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen), and Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen).

To pair a hearing implant sound processor and Fire TV device, customers can visit Fire TV Settings, navigate to Accessibility, select Hearing Aids, and follow the on-screen instructions to connect them. For more information, go to the Accessibility Features for Fire TV page.

About Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH)

People have always been Cochlear’s inspiration, and since 1981, Cochlear has provided more than 700,000 devices in more than 180 countries, helping people of all ages around the world to hear.  As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear connects people with life’s opportunities.

Cochlear continually innovates to anticipate future needs, investing more than AUD$2 billion to date in research and development to push the boundaries of technology and help more people hear.

www.cochlear.com/us

References

1.  World report on hearing. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.S
2.  Strategy Analytics’ Connected Home Devices service, Global Smart TV Forecast for 88 Countries 2011-2026. Available at https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210720005976/en/Strategy-Analytics-Global-Smart-TV-Household-Ownership-to-Exceed-50-by-2026 [Last accessed November 15, 2022].

Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always follow the directions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.

*For information regarding the compatibility of Cochlear’s Sound Processors with Amazon devices, visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility Cochlear, 科利耳, コクレア, 코클리어, Hear now. And always, Nucleus, Kanso, Baha, Osia, the elliptical logo, and marks bearing an ® or ™ symbol, are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Cochlear group of companies (unless otherwise noted).

The Osia system does not run the ASHA protocol. Osia is the only active implant on the market that allows for any kind of streaming from a Apple device without the use of an accessory/dongle (via MFi) and is compatible with the full range of Wireless Accessories. For the best television streaming experience with Osia, we recommend use of the TV Streamer.

©Cochlear Limited 2023. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Cochlear Limited

February 1st, 2023 — Pax’s Ear Fund is a hearing health reimbursement program offered through Ear Community that allows audiologists to be reimbursed for fitting/programming services when patients are denied coverage for this service by their insurance provider leaving them unable to pay the fee or high deductible at the time of the fitting/programming. This reimbursement program only covers patients born with microtia and/or aural atresia who wear Bone Anchored Hearing Devices/Bone Conduction Hearing Implant Systems. As a nonprofit organization that serves the microtia and aural atresia community, we ask that patients must have microtia and/or aural atresia to qualify as we have limited funds to work with for our community.