InComm Payments, a leading payments technology company, has announced a strategic partnership with MDHearing, a direct-to-consumer hearing aid manufacturer, under its InComm Healthcare business unit. This collaboration aims to empower health plan partners to offer supplemental benefit funds to their members for the acquisition of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids from MDHearing.
These hearing benefits can now be accessed through InComm Healthcare’s Dual Network Benefit Card™, designed to consolidate multiple health plan benefits onto a single card. This move comes in response to the increased demand for OTC hearing aids, following the 2022 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruling allowing hearing aids to be sold over the counter.
Brian Parlotto, Executive Vice President at InComm Payments, highlighted the significance of this partnership:
“Our collaboration with MDHearing provides a simple and effective solution for health plan members to treat hearing loss. Compared to the thousands of dollars that hearing aids have historically cost consumers, our partnership will connect health plans and their members with a reliable treatment at a fraction of the price.”
MDHearing, in addition to its hearing aids, provides free lifetime assistance from a team of licensed hearing professionals based in the United States. Furthermore, MDHearing extends its services to encompass remote screening tests, consultations, and hearing aid adjustments conducted over the phone and online.
The company’s hearing aid lineup features the following options:
- Air, a behind-the-ear (BTE) rechargeable aid with noise reduction capabilities in a virtually invisible design;
- Volt, a BTE rechargeable aid that features directional mics for advanced background noise reduction; and
- Neo, an in-the-canal (ITC) rechargeable aid with a discreet design that hides in the ear.
Doug Breaker, CEO at MDHearing, emphasized the potential economic and health benefits of this collaboration: “Untreated hearing impairments lead to significant costs for both consumers and health plans. We look forward to partnering with InComm Healthcare to bring our high-quality, affordable hearing aids and telehealth services to more consumers.”
InComm Healthcare’s Dual Network Benefit Card™ offers an efficient solution for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and other health plans to incorporate multiple supplemental benefits, rewards, or healthy foods programs into a single member card. Cardholders can utilize these benefit funds for purchases that align with the health plan’s program requirements, which may encompass OTC medicines, wellness products, groceries, and more. This initiative sees over $2 billion in supplemental benefit funds loaded onto the cards annually and provides access to more than 68,000 retail locations within the OTC Network®.
About InComm Payments
InComm Payments is an innovative global payments technology provider. Leveraging dynamic technology and proven expertise, InComm Payments delivers enhanced end-to-end payment platforms and emerging financial technology solutions through a single integration, helping businesses grow across a wide range of industries including retail, healthcare, tolling & transit, incentives, mobile payments, digital currencies and financial services. By enabling omnichannel connections and alternative payment options to an ever-expanding consumer base in an increasingly digital ecosystem, InComm Payments creates seamless and valuable commerce experiences across the globe. With three decades of experience, over 525,000 points of retail and online distribution, 412 global patents and a presence in more than 40 countries, InComm Payments leads the payments industry from its headquarters in Atlanta, Ga.
About InComm Healthcare
InComm Healthcare is the leader in innovative payment platforms and restricted-spend capabilities, serving more than 320 healthcare plans and reaching 8.5 million cardholders. Our proprietary OTC Network currently consists of 68,000+ retailer locations. Our online and mail order options give your members the convenience they expect. Our InComm Healthcare Dual Network Benefit Card ™ is revolutionizing supplemental benefits by allowing the flexibility to combine multiple benefits all on one card including OTC products, healthy foods, produce/meal delivery, dental/vision/hearing, and more.
About MDHearing
MDHearing is a leader in hearing health telemedicine, providing OTC hearing aids and screening tests over phone and online. The company performs tens of thousands of remote hearing aid adjustments, video consultations, and hearing screening tests per year.
Source: InComm, MDHearing
