Advancing the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act: The Crucial Role of State Audiology Associations
Stephanie Czuhajewski, MPH, CAE, Executive Director
The Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (MAAIA), H.R. 6445/S.2377, represents a monumental step forward in healthcare policy—streamlining access to audiological services for Medicare beneficiaries and appropriately recognizing audiologists as clinical doctoring professionals. While the legislation itself is a federal initiative, state audiology associations play an instrumental role in its advancement. State associations can leverage their unique position to advocate for change, educate stakeholders, and mobilize support at both the local and national levels.
State audiology associations are teeming with highly influential stakeholders (voters and donors) for federal legislators and are, therefore, at the forefront of advocacy efforts to promote the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act. I recently had the opportunity to provide a legislative briefing for the Oregon Academy of Audiology (OAA) on the status of MAAIA and the important position that Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has as Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. In that role, Senator Wyden literally sets the agenda for Medicare policy considerations for the entire Senate. OAA leaders and members are working actively to engage and inform Senator Wyden and his instate team about the importance of implementing MAAIA to improve the health and quality of life for seniors in Oregon and across the nation. ADA is grateful for these efforts, which will undoubtedly go a long way to advance the bill in this Congress.
Steps that State Associations Can Take to Advance the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act
- Write a letter supporting MAAIA on your state association letterhead and email it to health policy staff (ADA can draft the letter and provide you with the contacts to whom it should be sent)
- Organize a group of audiologists to attend in-state events where your members of Congress are speaking (oftentimes local chambers of commerce and other community-based organizations will host opportunities for business owners and/or citizens to meet with legislators).
- Contact state consumer advocacy groups, in-state university audiology training programs, and organizations serving older adults, and ask for their support for MAAIA. The bigger the instate coalition supporting the bill, the more likely members of Congress will co-sponsor it.
- Ask your state association audiologist members to encourage their patients to contact their legislators’ local and federal offices and ask for their support for MAAIA. Each legislator has a website with their local and D.C. office contact information.
It is important to understand that ADA does these things very well, however, there is always room for improvement. Our board has been working hard to move the needle and will continue using these team-based approaches throughout this year. We also have been working together with our colleagues at the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA) to move our legislation forward! Our manufacturing partners hosted the Hearing Industries Association (HIA) conference in DC and on March 20th, Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda and Dr. Tena McNamara, and myself charged The Hill in DC as a united front to support the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act. We had some great meetings and I look forward to gaining further support from Members of Congress through the year. I want to thank the HIA for putting on the conference and giving the academies the opportunity to attend and lobby together. ADA, ASHA, and AAA also hold a monthly president meeting to discuss professional issues and identify areas where we can align to better move forward on the big-ticket items on which we agree. These communications build trust and will ultimately move our profession forward.
- For the first 4 months of this year, ADA has been focusing on the fundamentals of communication and gaining relationships within our organization and with our extended partners. I look forward to the next 8 months as we continue to see where this goes. ■