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Currently under Medicare, audiologists are reimbursed only for diagnostic services. Under
the Comprehensive Audiology Legislation, audiologists will be reimbursed for both diagnostic and
rehabilitative services. These are services that are currently being provided by other
health care professionals. So no new programs will need to be added to Medicare.
The Comprehensive Audiology Legislation will benefit the profession of audiology. Audiologists
will be recognized and reimbursed for the provision of diagnostic and treatment services
to Medicare beneficiaries. Audiologists will become part of medical treatment teams and
take their rightful place in the rapidly changing health care landscape. In addition, as reimbursement
moves towards patient outcomes, the provision of treatment services will ensure that audiologists
are part of the new Medicare health payment system.
The comprehensive audiology legislation will help patients. Currently, Medicare beneficiaries
must pay out of pocket for rehabilitative services provided by audiologists. The Comprehensive
Audiology Legislation will provide increased access to rehabilitative services provided
by audiologists for both hearing and balance disorders.
You can learn more about the Comprehensive Audiology Legislation by going to www.asha.org
and click on the advocacy tab at the top and scroll down to federal issues. You can also
follows ASHA Advocacy on the social media network, such as Facebook and Twitter.