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American Cochlear Implant Alliance
| Coalitions |
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As our name implies, the ACI Alliance is active in many coalitions aimed at improving the lives of deaf and hard of hearing individuals as a whole. The various groups bring together the breadth of groups active in this area including veterans’ associations, medical organizations, and disability awareness. By collaborating with these other associations, we aim to expand information on and access to CI. ACI Alliance Engages in Advocacy Through ITEM and HAB Coalition Meetings The ACI Alliance team recently participated in the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid Coalition (ITEM Coalition) and the Habilitation Benefits Coalition (HAB Coalition) annual meetings. These meetings provide important opportunities to strategize with national partners on evolving state and federal health policy issues that directly affect individuals with disabilities, including people who are deaf and hard of hearing and cochlear implant users. The ITEM and HAB Coalitions provide the ACI Alliance opportunities to collaborate with national disability and healthcare organizations and contribute to hearing health discourse. By engaging in these policy conversations, we help ensure that the needs of people who are deaf and hard of hearing, including cochlear implant recipients, remain visible in state and federal healthcare decision-making. Addressing Medicare and Access Through ITEM The ITEM Coalition meeting in late January, centered on Medicare coverage and access-to-care issues affecting people with disabilities. The meeting covered expansion of medications, improving access to new and emerging technologies, and advancing policies that support accessible medical diagnostic equipment and technology. A particularly important focus for the ACI Alliance is improving coverage of cochlear implants for people with hearing loss. During the meeting, the ITEM Coalition addressed this topic and emphasized the need to support a National Coverage Determination (NCD) request to expand coverage of cochlear implants for individuals with single-sided deafness (SSD). The Coalition is also working to advance Medicaid coverage of cochlear implant processors, as well as coverage policies that advance access to cochlear implants, accessories, and supplies. Advancing Habilitation Policy During the HAB Coalition meeting in early February, discussions focused on ongoing efforts to monitor and act at both the state and federal levels to advance coverage of habilitative services. One example is exploring opportunities for the direct repeal of therapy caps on Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) services under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans. Another focus is to continue outreach to National Association of Insurance Commissioner (NAIC) requesting enforcement and compliance with the ACA implementation of Essential Health Benefits (EHBs). The Coalition will be closely tracking Congressional health reform efforts to ensure habilitation remains protected and strengthened within broader healthcare proposals. The meeting also covered the importance of strengthening our relationships with key stakeholders by providing timely updates and sharing information that reflects the Coalition’s ongoing monitoring of relevant policy issues. The HAB Coalition reinforced the importance of clearly articulating the value of habilitative services, which help individuals attain, maintain, or improve skills and functioning for daily living. The ACI Alliance looks forward to continuing this important work alongside our partners and keeping our members informed of policy developments that impact access to hearing health care and habilitative services nationwide. LISTEN TO THIS
LISTEN TO THIS is a global initiative connecting healthcare professionals, academic institutions, policymakers, patient organizations, community leaders, and loved ones. Their mission is to raise widespread awareness of hearing health, support new research and education, and drive meaningful change to help improve everyday life for millions. Friends of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus
Friends of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus (CHHC) is a coalition that supports the CHHC, a US House of Representatives Caucus focused on issues related to hearing health. The ACI Alliance recently became the Chair of the Friends of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus (FCHHC). The FCHHC is focused on supporting the work of the House Congressional Hearing Health Caucus’s goal of raising awareness for issues faced by the deaf and hard of hearing communities, including health issues, access to coverage, and early intervention for children. Read more here. FCHHC: Appropriations Update 10/21/2021 This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee majority released its proposed FY2022 LHHS bill and report. Building on our efforts in the House, we are pleased to share that the hearing screening language supported by the FCHHC has been included in the Senate report as well. The Senate language (bill text may be found here, report language found here) reads as follows: Hearing Health Screening.—The Committee recognizes the associated comorbidities and costs of untreated hearing loss and, with the growing aging population, the importance of hearing screening for older Americans. The Committee urges NIH to provide an update in the fiscal year 2023 CJ on hearing screening research for older adults across the NIH. The Committee encourages NIDCD and NIA to support studies that address the research needs and gaps identified by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force review of hearing screening recommendations for older Americans.
The ACI Alliance works collaboratively with other organizations in the field of hearing loss to ensure families are supported in their choices for their children with hearing loss. Read more here.
ACI Alliance participates in coalitions with other organizations in healthcare or disability fields to expand opportunities to address public policy issues. In August 2019, the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition included difficulty in securing long-term cochlear implant equipment under Medicaid in a letter to CMS regarding the Patients over Paperwork Initiative. Read more here. habilitation benefits coalition (HAB)
Read more here. |
