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Little Rock, AR and Lexington, KY —The Arkansas Academy of Audiology (ArAA) and the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) proudly announce the enactment of Senate Bill (SB) 118, groundbreaking legislation designed to modernize audiology practice across Arkansas. Learn more about SB 118.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), American Academy of Audiology (AAA), and Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) enthusiastically endorse the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2025 (H.R. 2757), a bipartisan legislation introduced today by U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and U.S. Representative Kevin Mullin (D-CA) that will remove unnecessary barriers to access to audiology services for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended coverage of audiology telehealth services until September 30, 2025.

The following codes are covered, when provided via telehealth, to traditional Medicare beneficiaries:

Frankfort, Ky. – Today, the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) released a seminal position statement, A Call to Action on Coverage of Hearing Care: Principles for Public Policies that Optimize Patient Outcomes, advocating for substantial reforms in public policy and insurance regulations governing hearing healthcare coverage.

"Hearing benefit plans and third-party administrators often place hearing aid sales over patient care, undervaluing essential diagnostic and rehabilitative services," said Stephanie Czuhajewski, MPH, CAE, Executive Director of ADA. "Because of disparities in oversight of hearing health coverage schemas, patients are frequently left without crucial audiologic services, severely undermining their health and quality of life.”

 Download the PDF

Background and Problem

Hearing health is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Approximately 15% of adults in the United States report difficulty hearing.¹ Disabling hearing loss affects about 5% of adults aged 45-54 years, 10% of adults aged 55-64 years, and 22% of those aged 65-74 years. Approximately 55% of those aged 75 years and older have disabling hearing loss.² Hearing loss is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and other serious health conditions.³ Yet, coverage for audiology and hearing healthcare services is limited and deficient.

On February 25, 2025, ADA and the Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology (PAA) teamed up to host Lobbying 101: AuDvocating for Public Policies that Advance Patient Care! The webinar is now available on-demand—and open to the public!

This one-hour webinar will equip audiologists with practical strategies to lobby for legislation to improve access to and coverage of audiology services and hearing aids. Participants will learn how to navigate legislative processes, craft compelling messages, and build relationships with state and federal legislators. The course will feature real-word case studies that emphasize the importance of communicating the value of audiology care and using patient-centered stories to influence policy change.

On Monday, February 24, 2025, ADA’s executive director testified in opposition to Nevada Assembly Bill 177, which would narrow requirements for licensure for hearing aid specialists, authorize them to perform cerumen management and tinnitus treatment services, and tie the training for tinnitus treatment to a certificate program owned and operated by the International Hearing Society! Interestingly, these ill-thought legislative provisions were initiated by the State of Nevada Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensing Board and supported by the Nevada Speech Language Hearing Association. ADA encourages Nevada audiologists to contact the Licensing Board lobbyist, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and your state legislators (find them here). Express your opposition to the hearing aid dispenser provisions of the bill!

On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Maryland Academy of Audiology (MAA) Legislative Chair, ADA Past President and Advocacy Chair, Dr. Alicia Spoor, testified in support of MD SB 919 to further refine Maryland’s audiology practice statute, which was overhauled in 2024. Also present in support of SB 919 were ADA members Dr. Leigh McCarthy, Dr. Melissa Segev, Dr. Brianna Bruno Holtan, and MAA lobbyist Gil Genn.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, audiologists representing the Arkansas Academy of Audiology (ARAA), the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) and the Student Academy of Doctors of Audiology (SADA) testified in support of AR SB 118 to modernize the Arkansas audiology practice statute and align it with audiologists’ training and education.

On Thursday, February 20, 2025, audiologists representing the Northwest Academy of Audiology (NWAA) made the case for OR SB 943 to modernize the Oregon audiology practice act to better reflect the education, training, and expertise of Doctors of Audiology. Testimony in support of the legislation was delivered by NWAA Past President and ADA State Advocacy Chair, Dr. Bryan Greenaway, NWAA President Dr. Katy Mawson, and ADA’s executive director, Stephanie Czuhajewski. Opposing the legislation is the Oregon Medical Association.