Medicare beneficiaries relying on telehealth services for audiology care may face significant barriers starting January 1, 2025, as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to end coverage for these services. An article published this week in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery highlights the implications of this decision, which threatens to reverse progress made in improving access to hearing care, particularly for older adults and rural populations.
Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting older adults in the United States, with two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries experiencing some degree of hearing impairment. Despite the proven benefits of hearing interventions, hearing care remains significantly underutilized, with fewer than 30% of eligible individuals using hearing aids and only 13% of cochlear implant candidates receiving the devices.
Geographic disparities compound this issue, as nearly two-thirds of U.S. counties lack audiology services, disproportionately affecting rural communities.
Telehealth emerged as a critical solution to these challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitated by temporary provisions under the CARES Act. Remote audiology services enabled patients to access hearing care through digital platforms, improving outcomes and reducing barriers tied to geographic and mobility limitations. Technologies for remote audiometry, digital otoscopy, and cochlear implant programming proved particularly effective in enhancing care delivery.
Restricting Access to Audiology Care for Medicare Beneficiaries
The decision to discontinue Medicare telehealth coverage for audiology services contradicts ongoing support for telehealth services in other healthcare sectors, including physical and occupational therapy. This discrepancy raises concerns about equity in healthcare policy, as it disproportionately impacts older adults with hearing loss, a population already at higher risk for social isolation, cognitive decline, and reduced quality of life.
Efforts to secure permanent Medicare coverage for audiology telehealth services are ongoing through legislative initiatives like the Expand Telehealth Access Act and the Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024. However, with legislative timelines uncertain, an interruption in access to remote audiology services appears inevitable.
Advocacy from healthcare professionals, patient groups, and policymakers will be essential to reversing this decision. Regulatory engagement with CMS and support for relevant legislative efforts remain key strategies in preserving telehealth access for audiology services.
The rollback of telehealth coverage represents not just a policy shift but a potential loss of progress made during the pandemic in bridging healthcare disparities. Without action, vulnerable populations will face renewed barriers to essential hearing care services, threatening to widen existing gaps in accessibility to care.
**For more details, the full article is available here.
Reference:
- Dixon PRCamposeo EMcRackan TR. The End of Medicare Telehealth Coverage for Audiology. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Published online December 26, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2024.4572
Source: JAMA
