I
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. R. 500
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
JANUARY16, 2025
Mrs. D
INGELL(for herself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. SMITHof Washington, Mr.
D
OGGETT, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Ms. NOR-
TON, Mr. LARSONof Connecticut, Mr. POCAN, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. HARDER
of California, Mrs. M
CIVER, Mr. JOHNSONof Georgia, Ms. BYNUM, Ms.
T
LAIB, Mrs. HAYES, Mr. MULLIN, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. JACK-
SONof Illinois, Mr. MOSKOWITZ, and Mr. LIEU) 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 sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of
such provisions 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-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medicare Hearing Aid 4
Coverage Act of 2025’’. 5
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SEC. 2. REMOVING MEDICARE EXCLUSION OF COVERAGE 1
OF HEARING AIDS AND EXAMINATIONS 2
THEREFOR. 3
(a) I
NGENERAL.—Section 1862(a)(7) of the Social 4
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(7)) is amended by strik-5
ing ‘‘hearing aids or examinations therefor,’’. 6
(b) E
FFECTIVEDATE.—The amendment made by 7
this section shall apply to items and services furnished on 8
or after January 1, 2026. 9
SEC. 3. GAO STUDY AND REPORT ON HEARING AID PRO-10
GRAMS. 11
(a) S
TUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 12
States shall conduct a study of programs, including Fed-13
eral programs and health insurance coverage, that provide 14
assistance for hearing aids and related examinations for 15
individuals with hearing loss. Such study shall include an 16
examination of the number of individuals in the United 17
States with hearing loss who need hearing aids, their cov-18
erage under such programs, and the effectiveness of such 19
programs in meeting such need. Such study may also ad-20
dress programs that are designed to reduce or mitigate 21
the incidence of hearing loss. 22
(b) R
EPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 23
date specified in section 2(b), the Comptroller General 24
shall submit a report to Congress on the study conducted 25
under subsection (a). Such report shall include such rec-26
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•HR 500 IH
ommendations on changes in such programs, including the 1
establishment of new programs, as would meet the needs 2
of individuals with hearing loss. 3
Æ
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