In Honor of Bone Anchored Awareness Day – Ear Community Advocates for Ally’s Act in Washington, D.C.

Sean Callinicos and Ryan McDevitt advocating for Ally’s Act in Washington, D.C. on Friday, May 2nd, 2025.

In honor of Bone Anchored Awareness Day, also known as “Good Vibrations Day,” our Ear Community Organization has been advocating for Ally’s Act, a federal piece of legislation ensuring private insurers cover Bone Anchored Hearing Systems & Cochlear Implants, for children & adults from birth to age 64!

Yesterday, May 2nd, Ear Community’s lobbyists/advocates, Sean Callinicos & Ryan McDevitt, spent the day on The Hill in Washington, D.C. advocating for Ally’s Act, meeting with Congressional & Senate offices! It is incredibly important that this bill passes for many of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Communities, including our community of microtia & atresia children & adults! Sean & Ryan donated their time yesterday to meet with Congressmen John Rutherford (R-FL) & Glenn Grothman’s (R-WI) offices, including Senator Marsha Blackburn’s (R-TN) office. Thank you so much for your advocacy and for helping fight for what our community needs!

Thank you to the microtia & atresia families & the medical professionals who wrote letters, asking for support of this bill! These letters were personally hand carried & given to the offices that Sean & Ryan met with!

While these hearing devices are covered by private insurers, they are frequently denied by them as well, creating significant barriers to care. These denials often override the medical determinations made by physicians, effectively placing critical healthcare decisions in the hands of insurers rather than professionals.

When private insurers only cover some people with insurance & yet deny others who are also insured under the same to similar plans – it creates uncertainty for consumers by establishing financial barriers for those who already pay for private insurance. Especially, when specific medically necessary devices are purposely “excluded from coverage”. Private insurers frequently override the medical diagnosis provided by our physicians when denying coverage for hearing devices, creating additional barriers for patients in need. Passage of Ally’s Act would make this coverage consistent!

WE WANT ALLY’S ACT TO PASS!

Thank you again to Sean and Ryan for advocating for our community! Ryan’s daughter, Brooke, also has microtia & atresia just like Ally does, the little girl behind Ally’s Act. Thank you to The Ear Community Organization, the many advocates and endorsers who continue to advocate for Ally’s Act to pass!

Here are some of our amazing advocates meeting with members of Congress and the Senate about why Ally’s Act is needed!