Goals

1. Encourage and support research on candidacy, criteria and the broad impacts of cochlear implants for children and adults
2. Advance awareness of best practices related to cochlear implants among patients and their families, clinicians including primary care doctors and other health professionals, early interventionists, educators, policy-makers, payers and the general public
3. Educate and encourage policy-makers and payers to take steps that expand access to cochlear implants
4. Build an effective, sustainable organization

Research

• Focus on knowledge gaps relative to access to care factors
• Disseminate key findings and initiate action plans on ACI Alliance ongoing sponsored research including societal costs and cost utility of CI in severe to profound hearing loss, CI underutilization, listening fatigue, and quality of life
• Encourage clinical research on topics related to the CI process, outcomes, and access barriers
• Utilize the annual CI conference as a means of sharing clinical research of importance to the larger community
• Continue research on state EHDI websites provision of key information and how to implement improvement
• Expand research on adult perceptions and disseminate findings to support communication and facilitate CI decision-making
• Consider development of position statements on topics that impact on access and awareness such as hearing restoration; impact of geographic, socio-economic and cultural diversity on access; CI and CMV

Awareness

• Address confusion amongst educational professionals, parents, and the general public including news outlets on “language deprivation” in children with hearing loss
• Develop and disseminate content for EHDI websites to support families in their hearing loss journey
• Increase early integration of CI information through a continuum of care approach by the advising and dispensing communities
• Promote hearing health as “whole health” with primary care organizations and practitioners
• Co-design and conduct national and international CI symposia highlighting research, clinical issues, (re)habilitation, quality of life/cost effectiveness, health care policy, and insurance issues using a multi-disciplinary scientific program committee
• Collaborate and utilize the opportunity to reach diverse audiences through others’ meetings, webinars, and publications
• Review and provide input on the accuracy of information provided by others via news outlets, websites, and other formats

Advocacy

• Collaborate with like-minded advocacy coalitions to address a wide range of CI and hearing loss topics
• Provide coalition leadership to seek/offer appropriate EHDI services and parent information for the family decision-making
• Expand State Champion program with direct advocacy for CI access and related services at state, local and national levels
• Engage consumers and parents to contribute importantly to our advocacy efforts
• Work with members and partners on outreach to stakeholders to address state issues such as Medicaid coverage and payment
• Work with HRSA and others to improve information provided to parents and general public via websites and other mechanisms
• Collaborate with National CMV Foundation to advance state-level legislation for screening and education
• Maintain engagement with CMS regarding access to CI and related services to address underrepresented groups
• Expand discussions with insurance companies to influence appropriate coverage of CIs
• Participate in hearing loss and general disability organizations
• Lead member advocacy efforts in Washington to expand knowledge about cochlear implants and issues of access with virtual and in-person “Day on the Hill” events
• In collaboration with other organizations, develop and disseminate multi-disciplinary clinical practice guidelines and undertake efforts that promote cochlear implantation as the standard of care treatment within non-hearing loss disciplines

Build a Sustainable Organization

• Increase membership to reach at least 3000 members
• Consider establishing membership sections (SIGs) for students, members with hearing loss, and other special interests
• Utilize best practices for board and staff performance
• Maintain an active committee structure to carry out the work of the organization