Expanding Veterans Access To Hearing Health

The men and women who put on the uniform to defend our freedom earned the best health care our country has to offer. It's critical that we do everything we can to roll out the red carpet for our veterans and ensure they have access to the care they need, no matter where they live.

Unfortunately, there is a glaring gap in the VA's Community Care program right now - audiologists are covered, but licensed hearing aid specialists are not, even though they are trained professionals who can fit, adjust, and repair hearing aids. This leaves too many veterans, especially those in rural areas, waiting months or traveling hours for basic services.

That's why I introduced the Veterans Hearing Health Expansion Act. This common sense bill would fix the issue by expanding access to hearing specialists and connecting veterans with the care they need. Specifically, it would amend the VA Mission Act to include licensed hearing aid specialists in the Community Care program, giving veterans faster access to care in their own communities. It's a simple change that makes a big difference.

I'm proud to lead this legislation, which has already received strong support from the International Hearing Society who called it "a major step" toward ensuring veterans can receive hearing services from local providers they trust.

The bottom line is this: Veterans shouldn't face red tape to get their hearing aids checked. They shouldn't have to drive across the state for a simple adjustment. This bill is about treating our veterans with the dignity and efficiency they earned, and I'll keep fighting to get it across the finish line.