Comments and Testimony

ACI Alliance submits comments to federal agencies and testimony to state legislatures and Congress relating to issues surrounding access to cochlear implants. Past letters and testimony have focused on parent choice, early intervention issues, telehealth policies, veteran access, and insurance coverage.

2025

ITEM Coalition Support for a More Robust Pathway for Medicare Coverage of Breakthrough Technologies (AUG 15)

ITEM Coalition Support for H.R. 3417, the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (June 13)

Comments to the Friends of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus (FCHHC) to urge oppose Medicaid funding cuts or program changes that will limit eligibility or access to hearing health care devices and services (June 9)

ACI Alliance Partners with Coalitions on Congressional Letters Regarding Medicaid Cuts (Jine 9)

ACI Alliance Sends NC Budget Request Letter (May 28)

ACI Alliance Joins Organizations Urging Protection of Department of Health and Human Services Programs (Mar 31)

ACI Alliance Supports Missouri Efforts to Expand Medicaid CI Coverage to Adults (Feb 19)

2024

ACI Alliance submitted comments on the FY2025 CMS Fee Schedule Proposed rule addressing concerns on telehealth for SLPs and Audiologists  (Aug 26)

ACI Alliance Joins Other Hearing Health Organization on Letter to HRSA on EHDI  (Aug 23)

ACI Alliance submits comments to NIH for Hearing Healthcare for Adults and Improving Access and Affordability  (Aug 14)

ACI Alliance Supports ACLU’s Delaware Complaint Entitled, “DDOE Discrimination Against Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students”(Feb 28)

ACI Alliance Joins Others in the Item Coalition in Support HR, 6373, the Veterans’ Stand Act (Feb 23)

ACI Alliance is pleased to support Missouri HB 1918 which would expand Medicaid to cover cochlear implants for adults  (Dec 12)

2023

ACI Alliance joins members of the ITEM Coalition in expressing support for HR 1691  (Dec 12)

ACI Alliance and ITEM Coalition Submit Letter to HHS on Prohibiting Disability Discrimination (Nov 13)

ACI Alliance recently commented on a proposal in Nebraska that would have allowed those not trained in Cochlear Implants to Determine Candidacy  (Oct 13)

American Cochlear Implant Alliance comments on Washington Health Care Authority regarding the forthcoming rules for the implementation of Medicaid coverage for Cochlear Implants for Adults (Sep 29)

American Academy of Pediatrics Publishes a Clinical Report on Hearing Assessment in Infants, Children, and Adolescents and ACI Alliance Responds  (Sep 17) Read the AAP Assessment Here

ACI Alliance provides comments to the FDA relative to the topic of patient access to digital health technologies in non-clinical settings (Aug 30)

ACI Alliance and ITEM Coalition Provided Comments on Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (“TCET”) Medicare coverage  (Aug 28)

ACI Alliance continues to support efforts in Arizona to expand Medicaid coverage for adults  (Mar 27)

Update - US Consumer Product Safety Commission Listens to ACI Alliance and others to allow continued access the hearing technology batteries  (Mar 9)

ACI Alliance Supports Continue Access to Hearing Technology Batteries  (Feb 24)

ACI Alliance writes to Committee chairs urging support for the necessary funds in Washington State to expand Medicaid coverage to cover CI for adults  (JAN 18)

2022

ACI Alliance Comments on Washington State Health Care Authority Budget Proposal (OCT 4)

ACI Alliance and ITEM Coalition submit comments on HHS Proposed Rule on Nondiscrimination under Section 1557 of the ACA (OCT 3)

ACI Alliance comments on EHDI Program  (JUL 18)

ACI Alliance comments on the DRAFT NIDCD Strategic Plan 2022-2027  (MAY 31)

ACI Alliance Opposes Los Angeles School Board Resolution Limiting Parent Choice (MAY 11)

ACI Alliance Supports Amending California Bill AB 2541 to Allow Funding for All Schools and Programs that Support Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing  (APR 20)

ACI Alliance Submits Comments on Expanding Medicare CI Coverage via a National Coverage Determination (NCD)  (MAR 28)

ACI Alliance write to Chairwoman Stargtel and Members of the Committee to support SB 292 which improves awareness of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV)  (MAR 11)

ACI Alliance joined Habilitation Benefits Coalition letter to CMS on the 2023 proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters  (JAN 27)

2021

ACI Alliance comments to CMS on the CY 2022 Physician Payment Schedule  (SEP 8)

ACI Alliance joined Friends of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus coalition letter on FY2022 Hearing Health Priorities  (JUL 9)

Texas members of ACI Alliance opposition to the Medicaid reimbursement payment schedule for cochlear implant surgery  (JUL 14)

ACI Alliance support for Pennsylvania CMV Screening Legislation (JUN 28)

ACI Alliance support for Connecticut legislation (SB 315) requiring private insurance companies to cover cochlear implants  (MAR 9)

ACI Alliance opposition to amendments to Florida Senate Bill 700 to remove the current requirement that individuals be evaluated by a licensed audiologist and instead allow individuals to sign a waiver prior to receiving a hearing aid   (FEB 25)

ACI Alliance comments on the Biden Plan for Full Participation and Equality for People with Disabilities   (OCT 10)

2020

ACI Alliance comments on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Draft Recommendation Statement on Hearing Loss in Older Adults: Screening (OCT 5)

ACI Alliance comments to CMS on revaluations for evaluation and management (E/M) codes and the extension of coverage of certain telehealth services past the COVID-19 public health  (SEP 30)

2019

ACI Alliance letter to the Department of Education on the administration of early intervention and special education programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act  (AUG 14)

ACI Alliance support for Maryland House Bill 1192, the Equal Access for Marylanders with Hearing Loss Act (MAR 5)

ACI Alliance letter on LEAD-K legislative proposals (FEB 27)

ACI Alliance letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposing a new core objective for the Healthy People 2030 initiative (JAN 17)

ACI Alliance comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening program  (JAN 11)

2018

ACI Alliance letter in support of the District of Columbia Open Movie Captioning Requirement Act of 2018 (DEC 12)

2017

ACI Alliance comments to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on proposed rules relating to prosthetics and rehabilitative services, including access to cochlear implants, within in the VA System (DEC 15)

2016

ACI Alliance comments to the Federal Communications Commission on Hearing-Aid Compatible Mobile Handsets (JAN 28)

2015

ACI Alliance comments to CSM on the need for appropriate coverage of cochlear implants in state benchmark plans (SEP 30)

ACI Alliance comments on Pediatrics article "Ethics Rounds: Should All Deaf Children Learn Sign Language?” (JUL 29)

ACI Alliance comments on Essential Health Benefits (EHB) benchmark plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) (SEP 30)

2014

ACI Alliance comments to CMS on a proposal to modify the existing regulations relating to  Osseointegrated Implants  (AUG 15)

2012

ACI Alliance comments to Washington state on cochlear implantation and Medicaid coverage (NOV 29)