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I
117TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1118
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion
of Medicare coverage for hearing aids and examinations therefor, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 18, 2021
Mrs. DINGELL (for herself, Mr. KILMER, Miss RICE of New York, Ms.
SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. MATSUI, Mr.
DOGGETT, and Mr. FITZPATRICK) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition
to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove
the exclusion of Medicare coverage for hearing aids and
examinations therefor, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medicare Hearing Aid
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Coverage Act of 2021’’.
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SEC. 2. REMOVING MEDICARE EXCLUSION OF COVERAGE
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OF
HEARING
AIDS
AND
EXAMINATIONS
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THEREFOR.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1862(a)(7) of the Social
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Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(7)) is amended by strik-
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ing ‘‘hearing aids or examinations therefor,’’.
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(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
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this section shall apply to items and services furnished on
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or after January 1, 2022.
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SEC. 3. GAO STUDY AND REPORT ON HEARING AID PRO-
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GRAMS.
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(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United
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States shall conduct a study of programs, including Fed-
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eral programs and health insurance coverage, that provide
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assistance for hearing aids and related examinations for
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individuals with hearing loss. Such study shall include an
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examination of the number of individuals in the United
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States with hearing loss who need hearing aids, their cov-
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erage under such programs, and the effectiveness of such
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programs in meeting such need. Such study may also ad-
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dress programs that are designed to reduce or mitigate
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the incidence of hearing loss.
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(b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the
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date specified in section 2(b), the Comptroller General
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shall submit a report to Congress on the study conducted
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under subsection (a). Such report shall include such rec-
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•HR 1118 IH
ommendations on changes in such programs, including the
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establishment of new programs, as would meet the needs
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of individuals with hearing loss.
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Æ
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