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| Early Intervention |
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EHDI Appropriations and Re-authorization: What you should know EHDI Funding and Advocacy: Key Updates and Strategic Next Steps Recent discussions on the future of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program highlight important developments in federal funding, program structure, and advocacy strategy. This moment presents a critical opportunity to educate policymakers and reinforce the program’s value. Budget Proposal and AHA Restructuring The proposed changes to EHDI funding originate from the President’s budget request, not from Congress. The proposal would also shift EHDI from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to a newly envisioned Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), with the stated goal of consolidating programs and reducing redundancy. Historically, Congress has not fully adopted the presidential budget proposals. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed funding for the AHA in its FY 2026 budget, but Congress declined to approve it. This suggests that Congress may be unlikely to adopt such a large-scale restructuring in FY 2027. Changes of this magnitude would require significant funding shifts and could delay the appropriations process. Even if the proposal is not enacted, it presents an important opportunity to educate congressional staff on EHDI—highlighting its proven impact, current funding structures, and the risks associated with restructuring. Why Both EHDI Funding Streams Matter EHDI’s success depends on two distinct and complementary funding streams:
Together these roles ensure timely identification, follow-up, and intervention for infants who are deaf and hard of hearing. Each program is administered by specialized teams with distinct expertise; both are essential to a fully functioning EHDI system. Looking Ahead As the policy landscape evolves, the core message remains unchanged: EHDI is a proven, essential program that relies on both stable funding and clear policies. This moment presents an opportunity to reinforce its impact, strengthen stakeholder understanding and ensure EHDI remains a national priority for children and families. State Champs and Members: What You Can Do
Advancing Early Hearing Detection and Intervention on Capitol Hill As part of our ongoing advocacy efforts, ACI Alliance recently met with key members of the Congress to highlight the importance of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program and to reinforce the need for continued funding and timely reauthorization. We met with the offices of Representative Julia Letlow (R-LA) and Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to discuss how early identification and intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s life, and why federal leadership is essential to sustaining this progress. We also used these meetings as an opportunity to educate offices on the broader policy landscape and the importance of protecting programs like EHDI amid potential federal restructuring proposals. Why EHDI Matters The EHDI program is a cornerstone of early childhood public health. It ensures that newborns are screened for hearing loss, receive timely diagnostic follow-up, and are connected to early intervention services during the most critical periods of development. Without strong federal support, gaps in screening, follow-up, and intervention can widen. EHDI helps states build and maintain the infrastructure needed to ensure no child falls through the cracks. EHDI works because it creates a coordinated accountable system; one that supports families, providers, and states in delivering timely and effective care. Support EHDI Funding and Reauthorization As Congress considers future appropriations and reauthorization timelines, ACI Alliance emphasized the importance of maintaining strong, coordinated federal support for EHDI. Tell your Members of Congress to support robust funding and reauthorization of EHDI. Sustaining the program ensures that children with hearing loss are identified early and have access to appropriate care and intervention, setting them up for success in school and beyond. What You Can Do Advocacy makes a difference.
To support your outreach, ACI Alliance has developed a ready-to-use advocacy template that State Champions and members can use to communicate with their Members of Congress and state leaders. This resource will be shared soon—stay tuned for more details and guidance. Together, we can continue to build a system where early detection, timely intervention, and access to hearing care are available to all. Barriers to Early Intervention
11/7/2023 Donna Sorkin spoke at the 2023 ASHA conference on Barriers to Early Intervention. The three general categories of barriers to early intervention that impact on loss to follow up are: Provider, Patient (child) and Family. Position Paper: Supporting Parent Choice for Children Who are Deaf and Hard of HearingDecember 2018 The Position Paper: Supporting Parent Choice for Children Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing was recently approved by the ACI Alliance Board of Directors. It is an important tool in our advocacy to promote parent choice within the larger context of language development and literacy for children with hearing loss. With this paper, we have been inclusive of the importance of all hearing technologies (not just cochlear implants) as well as the language of the home. Click here for the entire Position Paper Passage of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 202212/7/2022 Congress passed and President Biden signed into law the 2022 Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Reauthorization. The new law includes a GAO study on how information is collected, how information is provided vis a vie websites and other formats, and ways to address historically underserved communities. ACI Alliance research helped call attention to the need for oversight of this legislatively mandated information source for families. In addition, the FY2023 Omnibus Act included a language change for EHDI that encourages the Health Resources Services Administration (which administers EHDI) to work with partners to advance awareness about the wide range of modalities available for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. The legislation specifically mentions that this includes but is not limited to auditory-oral therapy, auditory-verbal therapy, Signed Exact English (SEE), American Sign Language (ASL), Total Communication (TC), and Cued Speech; as well as a full range of assistive hearing technologies, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants. Read the full bill here. ACI Alliance Submits Comments on EHDI7/18/2022 ACI Alliance submitted comments on the recent HRSA call for information on future program development of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program. We are longtime supporters of EHDI as it is one of the most crucial programs for identifying and supporting children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. Our comments address the need for additional support from HRSA to EHDI programs for distribution of accurate, unbiased information to parents; improving family to family support, and engagement of medically underserved communities. Senate Introduces Bipartisan EHDI Reauthorization Bill4/12/2022 Following on the House passage, the Senate has introduced S. 4052, a bipartisan reauthorization of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program. The bill reauthorizes the newborn hearing screening program and early intervention services for children who are diagnosed with a hearing loss. Similar to the House bill, H.R. 5561, it includes a requirement for a GAO study to analyze how information disseminated by state EHDI programs are relied upon by parents and identify ways to address disparities in outreach to families. ACI Alliance recently reviewed the state EHDI websites and found significant variation in the critical information provided via these important electronic information sources. The Senate version also includes a vitally needed increase in funds for Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) which provides grants to run state EHDI programs. ACI Alliance will continue to support and track this key legislation. Read Senator Portman’s press release on the bill here. ACI Alliance Joins Other Associations in Asking Senate to Advance EHDI Reauthorization3/9/2022 ACI Alliance recently joined other associations in sending a letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee on the reauthorization of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) reauthorization. EHDI provides the crucial newborn hearing screening program as well as early intervention services. Since the initial passage in 2000, 98% of infants are now screened for hearing loss in the US. The House of Representatives passed the reauthorization in December 2021 and we will work with the Senate to ensure passage there in the coming months. Support Telehealth Permanence under Medicare11/29/2021 Legislation allowing audiologists, speech language pathologists, and others to continue providing telehealth services under Medicare was introduced in both the US House and Senate. ACI Alliance supports these efforts. Waivers to provide telehealth will expire once the public health emergency due to COVID-19 ends. These bi-partisan bills will allow the waivers to be permanent thereby allowing hearing health professionals to continue to provide CI and other hearing health needed services. To let your Member of the US House Representatives know you support this bill, click here. To let your US Senator know, click here. Support Early Intervention Reauthorization11/17/2021 The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Act of 2021 passed unanimously out of the Energy and Commerce Committee as H.R. 5561 on November 17th and awaits a full vote by the US House of Representatives. The EHDI program provides funding for infant screening programs and early intervention services for children with hearing loss. We are working with the appropriate Senate staff on a bill, collaborating with related organizations. Please let your Member of Congress know that you support EHDI and improved funding for the program by clicking here. 12/8/2021 WORK BEGINS ON EHDI REAUTHORIZATION BILL11/8/2021 The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health unanimously passed the bipartisan Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) reauthorization bill on November 4, 2021. The bill was last reauthorized in 2017; it provides funding for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and related state early intervention programs. During the hearing, Congresswoman Matsui (D, CA-6) stated she was pleased to once again support the bill but remains concerned about gaps in services for racial and ethnic minorities and a need to improve CDC technical oversight of the program. Along with members of Friends of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus, ACI Alliance supported funding increases for the EHDI program. Read more here. ACI Alliance submits comments on Early Intervention program
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