Enhancing Access to Hearing Aids
March 3, 2010
New York could take an important step this year in improving access to hearing aids for the growing number of hearing-impaired. This week, I along with Assembly Member Jeff Dinowitz of the Bronx introduced legislation that will make it possible for patients to purchase hearing aids directly from their doctors.
A current state law–the only one of its kind in the country–prohibits doctors who evaluate hearing loss from deriving a profit from hearing aid sales. As a result, few doctors’ offices offer hearing aid services to their patients, since doing so is economically unviable. These restrictions create artificially high prices and unnecessary inconvenience for patients. Doctors’ offices can provide patients with cost-effective and convenient services.
This new legislation will enhance patients’ access to treatment and increase competition among providers. Patients will be able to have continuity of care with their doctors, which is especially important when patients have complex medical conditions. A 2009 Consumer Reports article indicated that the best provider of hearing aids is a medical office headed by an ear, nose and throat doctor with an audiologist on staff- an unlikely option in New York under the current law.
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