Please support Ally’s Act and make it the law!
Ally’s Act, H.R. 5485
Ally’s Act, H.R. 5485 is a national level bill that was introduced on December 18th, 2019 ensuring that private insurance companies provide coverage for osseointegrated hearing devices (“OIDs”), including Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (“BAHA”) and Cochlear Implants (“CIs”). So many of us have had our private insurance providers deny coverage for these very hearing devices for our children and adults. Even our hearing exams and appointments with ENTs and audiologists are costly, including the fittings and programming of these devices, surgery and post-operative care appointments. Ally’s Act would help ensure that private insurance providers cover these costs including the cost of these hearing devices and their accessories, surgery and medical exams as noted in our bill. If Ally’s Act becomes the law, this bill would help thousands of children and adults of all ages have insurance coverage for these devices here on out.
We need everyone’s support to help Ally’s Act become the law! Please contact your local congressmen/women and ask them to co-Sponsor Ally’s Act, H.R. 5485! Ally’s Act has been assigned to the House Committee of Energy and Commerce. We must first focus on asking congress members of this committee to co-Sponsor Ally’s Act (link to HC&EC here). If there is not a representative for your state who sits on the House Committee of Energy and Commerce, please also contact your local representative. If you are not sure who your local representative is, you can find out who your local representative is at the following link here.
* We need as many co-Sponsors as we can get to help make Ally’s Act the law (we need 290 co-sponsors)!
Ally’s Act would provide the following for every state:
1. Coverage for a BAHA or CI device.
2. Upgrade replacement of these hearing devices every 5 years
3. Cover accessories including softband head band, hard band and adhesives.
4. Cover repairs for these devices
5. Cover (1) hearing assessment per year
6. Cover (1) preoperative assessment per year
7. Cover implantation surgery
8. Cover post-operative medical appointments
9. Cover post-operative audiological appointments for fittings, programming and activation
10.Provide aural services related to the use of this device.
(NEGUSE_Ally’s Act_067_xml)
* You may also follow the status of Ally’s Act as it moves through congress at this link here.
CBS News 4 Denver News Clip
Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO), who serves as a member of House Leadership and is the Vice Chair of the Medicare for all Caucus, introduced legislation, co-lead by Congressman David McKinley (R-WV) and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) both co-Chairs of the Hearing Health Caucus, to ensure that private insurance companies provide coverage for osseointegrated hearing devices (“OIDs”), including bone anchored hearing aids (“BAHA”) and cochlear implants. Ally Tumblin, c0-founder of Ear Community, wrote to Congressman Neguse asking him to help her advocate for hearing better and he listened! Congressman Joe Neguse titled the bill “Ally’s Act” in her honor. (link to Press Release here)
Here is some helpful information: (request a letter and call script via e-mail EarCommunity@gmail.com)
1. Example boilerplate template letter (word doc) (Boilerplate Ally’s Act letter)
Example boilerplate template letter (pdf) (Boilerplate Ally’s Act letter)
2. Example call script to a local representative (word doc)
(Example call to Congress rep about Ally’s Act)
Example call script to a local representative (pdf)
(Example call to Congress rep about Ally’s Act)
- Ally’s Act boilerplate template
- Example call to congress rep
More information on Ally’s Act in the press:
“Broomfield girl inspires hearing aid legislation”
