WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to include Hearing Aid Specialists as eligible providers under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care program. The bill, titled the Veterans Hearing Health Expansion Act (H.R. 3088), was introduced by Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI) on April 30, 2025.
If passed, the legislation would amend the VA MISSION Act of 2018 to explicitly list Hearing Aid Specialists as recognized providers within the Community Care framework. According to supporters, the bill is intended to increase access to hearing care for veterans, particularly those in rural areas.
“Veterans deserve timely, high-quality healthcare no matter where they live. Expanding the VA’s Community Care program to include Hearing Aid Specialists when it already covers other specialists is a commonsense way to achieve that goal. This bill is a simple fix that will make a big difference, especially for rural veterans, by giving them more options and less red tape when it comes to maintaining their hearing health.”
–Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI)
The International Hearing Society (IHS), which represents Hearing Aid Specialists, expressed strong support for the measure.
“Ensuring our membership can serve veteran patients as integrated VA providers is a high priority and this legislation goes far to address that objective,” said IHS Executive Director Alissa Parady, CAE. “It’s been more than a decade that IHS has been appealing to the VA to authorize Hearing Aid Specialists to help as community-based VA providers, and to date, the VA has continued to sit on this opportunity to utilize Hearing Aid Specialists to better deliver care to veterans.”
The bill has been framed by supporters as a step toward improving hearing healthcare access for veterans nationwide. It is currently under consideration by Congress.
From left to right: Clell Hamm, BA, BC-HIS; IHS President Michael Andreozzi, BS, BC-HIS; Representative Tom Barrett (R-MI); IHS President-Elect Leanne Polhill, BA, BC-HIS; David Kimbel, BC-HIS; and Nicholas Gray, BC-HIS; in Washington, D.C., on April 30.
About the International Hearing Society:
The International Hearing Society (IHS) is a membership association that represents hearing healthcare professionals worldwide, including hearing aid specialists. IHS members are engaged in the practice of performing hearing assessments, selecting, fitting, and dispensing hearing instruments, counseling patients, and providing aftercare services. Founded in 1951, IHS protects, represents, and promotes the interests of hearing healthcare and hearing healthcare professionals. For more information visit www.ihsinfo.org.
Source: IHS
