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. 

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.

Parent CHOICE

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.

ITEM COALITION

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.