Update on Federal Funding for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program
This week the House Appropriations full committee released its funding levels for FY 2026. ACI Alliance is thrilled to report that the EHDI program in the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) is funded at $18,818,000--the same amount as the recently passed Senate bill--representing level funding. (The actual bill language and a link to the entire bill is below.) EHDI funding, a critical program for identifying hearing loss in young children and getting children on the path to intervention, had received no funding in the Administration’s budget and was slated for elimination.
ACI Alliance organized meetings with legislative staff regarding the benefits of the EHDI program and the importance of retaining it for the long-term economic and social benefits provided by early intervention for children with hearing loss. Our State Champions, members, and staff did a remarkable job making the case during dozens of meetings. You made a difference! Clearly there is now bipartisan and bicameral support for maintaining the EHDI program. While the final funding number for EHDI will not be known for several months at least, this is great news and dramatically increases the likelihood that EHDI will remain a viable program going forward. All of us need to remain vigilant in telling our legislators about the impacts of this critical legislation.
There is a lot of work to be done before a final budget will be known for FY 2026. This could include a government shut-down and high stakes negotiations with the Administration on funding levels for Health and Human Services and Education—both of which have programs that impact the people we serve. Join our State Champions network to be involved in this and other advocacy efforts by ACI Alliance. Learn more here: Cochlear Implant State Championship Program - American Cochlear Implant Alliance
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention The Committee includes $18,818,000 for the early hearing detection and intervention program. This program awards grants to 53 States and territories to support Statewide systems of newborn hearing screening and early intervention programs.
Rep. Neguse Joins Ally and Melissa Tumblin to Introduce “Ally's Act,” Legislation to Expand Coverage for Specialized Hearing Devices
Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse has once again teamed up with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) to introduce “Ally’s Act,” a bipartisan bill that would ensure private insurance companies cover osseointegrated hearing devices (“OIDs”), including bone anchored hearing aids (“BAHA”) and cochlear implants. The legislation is inspired by Ally Tumblin, a 16-year-old Colorado native, who was born without a right ear or hearing canal.
“The bill is really simple. It is an effort to help Coloradans and Americans ensure that they have access through their health insurance plans to bone anchored hearing devices, which, right now, are not available on the vast majority of health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act. We've got to change it. And really, this bill only came about because of Melissa and Ally Tumblin. It was their story—and Ally's story—that really helped us conceive of Ally’s Act, and I couldn't be more grateful to both of them for their courage and their willingness to be a part of the solution,” said Congressman Neguse in a video highlighting the bill.
ACI Alliance supports the bill and is named as a sponsor in the attached Media Alert issued by Congressman Neguse.
The mission of the American Cochlear Implant (ACI) Alliance is to advance access to the gift of hearing provided by cochlear implantation through research, advocacy and awareness.
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