[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E17]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E17]]



                 HEARING CARE FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 1997

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation which 
will cover audiology services for Federal employees.
  This legislation requires Federal health benefit insurance carriers 
to guarantee direct access to, and reimbursement for, audiologist-
provided hearing care services when hearing care is covered under a 
Federal health benefit plan.
  As my colleagues may be aware, the Federal Government already allows 
direct access to services provided by optometrists, clinical 
psychologists, and nurse midwives, yet fails to allow direct access to 
services provided by audiologists in Federal health benefit plans 
covering hearing care services.
  It is not my intention to expand the services which can be provided 
by audiologists, but instead to only allow audiologists to provide what 
they are already licensed to do under State laws--and no more.
  Currently the consumers of audiology services are people with hearing 
loss and related conditions. In fact, there are an estimated 28 million 
people in the United States--about 1 in every 10--who are affected by 
hearing loss. This number is expected to increase to over 40 million 
people during the next 10 to 20 years, as our national population 
continues to age.
  Moreover, it is worth noting that many private health insurers model 
their benefits packages after the Federal employee health benefit plan. 
Accordingly, this bill will also provide important indirect benefits to 
millions of Americans with hearing loss, who are not Federal employees.
  I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the Hearing Care for Federal 
Employees Act and support freedom of choice to the patient while 
providing swift and timely access to hearing care.

                          ____________________