ASHA - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

03/13/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/13/2026 03:21

ASHA Advocate: March 13, 2026

World Hearing Day 2026 and Audiology Capitol Hill Visits

Hundreds of ASHA advocates celebrated World Hearing Day on March 3, 2026 by sending over 1,500 letters building support for legislation to protect newborn hearing screening programs, stop cytomegalovirus, and improve private insurance coverage of implantable hearing devices. ASHA Advocacy also participated in joint congressional meetings on World Hearing Day with the American Cochlear Implant Alliance.

ASHA Board member, Kevin Kock, AuD, MPH, CCC-A, followed up by meeting with legislators on Capitol Hill to continue discussions on audiology. He discussed the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act alongside advocates from the American Academy of Audiology and Academy of Doctors of Audiology.

AMA Updates Hearing Device Services Codes

The American Medical Association (AMA) has published updates to the new hearing device services codes. ASHA Advocacy's resources on these codes have been updated to reflect these changes.

ASHA Supports Legislation to Make Hearing Aids More Affordable

Representative Kevin Mullin (D-CA) has introduced the Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act (H.R. 7770), ASHA-supported legislation that would provide tax credits of up to $1,000 for the purchase of prescription or over-the-counter hearing aids for individuals earning up to $150,000 and households earning up to $300,000. Read Rep. Mullin's press release about the bill, which quotes ASHA President Linda Rosa-Lugo, who noted that the effort will "reduce financial barriers that prevent people from obtaining essential communication devices such as hearing aids."

State Leaders Connect

ASHA Advocacy launched "State Leaders Connect," a monthly series connecting state association leaders with one another and strengthening their engagement with ASHA staff. Our first meetings included discussions about the ASHFoundation and the Clinical Achievement Awards, a presidents' roundtable on state association membership, and a spotlight on audiology services and the World Hearing Day Toolkit. Twenty-four leaders from 16 state associations participated in the first sessions.

Working for You

  • Participated in a hearing health partner panel at the Hearing Industries Association's annual meeting.
  • Provided input to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on proposals to reform the National Institutes of Health [PDF].
  • Signed a letter to House and Senate leaders opposing actions by the Trump Administration that would restrict access to Medicaid home and community-based services.
  • Signed a letter to bipartisan leaders of the Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies requesting funding in fiscal year 2027 for Assistive Technology Act programs.
  • Submitted comments to CMS [PDF] on hospital conditions of participation and Medicaid/CHIP funding related to gender-affirming care.
  • Attended the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy annual meeting focused on transparency, interoperability, and patient-centered care at the intersection of health policy and technology.
  • Participated in the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCORI) Virtual Community Roundtable on Harnessing Digital Health Technologies focused on safeguarding quality of care and keeping humans in the loop.
  • Explored potential opportunities and challenges for audiologists and SLPs in emerging value-based payment models at the Value-Based Payment Summit.
  • Joined the Missouri Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Legislative Day to discuss ASHA's advocacy engagement in the states.
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