Why Alaska Hearing & Tinnitus Center are Lobbying the Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act (H.R. 1587 / S.1731)

08/04/2021 | News, Patient Resources

Lobbying for your profession is a huge honor.

Myself and my audiology colleagues from all over the country are meeting with our legislators this week to discuss a bill called MAASA. Joined by Erin, a staffer at Senator Sullivan’s office, we had a great meeting yesterday regarding the Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act (MAASA.)

This bill promotes audiologists to a practitioner classification and provides more access for Medicare beneficiaries regarding hearing loss.

This includes:

  • Improving access to qualified, licensed Medicare providers by allowing seniors with a suspected hearing or balance disorder to seek treatment directly from audiologists, eliminating archaic medical doctor referral requirements.
  • Allowing patients to choose among qualified providers for Medicare-covered audiology services by authorizing Medicare to reimburse audiologists for the Medicare-covered services they are licensed to provide. These services are already covered by Medicare when delivered by other providers.
  • Addressing the medical provider workforce shortage confronting our country while helping to meet the increasing demand for health care services by the growing Medicare population through the inclusion of audiologists in the list of Medicare-recognized practitioners.

Currently, Audiologist’s are the only doctoring profession without direct access to our patients under Medicare Part B. All other insurances, such as the VA, Medicaid, and Private Payors allow Audiologists to work with patients directly.

Passing MAASA will open the doors for our patients to receive the care they need in a timely manner without extra steps.

There are already many steps that stand in most people’s way of achieving better hearing, and we’re passionate about removing as many of these as possible.

Remember, no matter what happens in the world, you remain the center of ours!

 

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Dr. Emily E McMahan

Dr. McMahan attended the University of Cincinnati where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2009. She furthered her professional education by obtaining her Doctorate of Audiology from Salus University in Philadelphia in 2013. She completed her residency in Anchorage and has been applying her expertise to her patients in the Pacific Northwest for several years. Whether you need hearing testing, hearing aids, or assistance with managing tinnitus in your daily lives, Dr. McMahan is qualified to assist you!

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