,,ii  #aae? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #bege  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #bj1 #bjah,ms4    
,w>r5 7= h]self & ,mr4 ,paul7 introduc$ 
! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$
 to ! ,committee on ,f9ance  ,a ,,bill  
,to am5d title ,,xviii ( ! ,social      
,security ,act to provide = treatm5t (  
audiologi/s z physicians = purposes (   
furni%+ audiology s]vices "u ! ,m$ic>e  
program1 to improve access to !         
audiology s]vices available = cov]age "u
 ! ,m$ic>e program & to enable          
b5efici>ies to h _! *oice ( a qualifi$  
audiologi/ to provide su* s]vices1 & =  
o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act
 may be cit$ z ! ,audiology ,pati5t     
,*oice ,act ( #bjah4  #b4 ,f9d+s        
,congress f9ds ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,he>+    
loss is ! ?ird mo/ common *ronic        
physical condition = ,am]icans ov] #fe1 
beh9d only ar?ritis & high blood        
pressure4  7#b7 ,individuals ) mild he>+
 loss are ?ree times m likely to        
exp]i5ce a fall & falls are ! lead+     

cause ( injury & dea?s f injury =       
,am]icans ov] #fe4  7#c7 ,untreat$ he>+ 
& balance problems contribute to & are  
highly correlat$ ) depression & social  
isolation4  7#d7 ,s5iors ) he>+ loss run
 a mu* high] risk ( cognitive problems &
 exp]i5ce cognitive decl9e up to #dj    
p]c5t fa/] ?an ^? ) normal he>+4  7#e7  
,m$ic>e b5efici>ies %\ld h access to !  
same level ( audiologic c>e z is        
available 9 ! ,vet]ans' ,adm9i/ration1  
"u ! ,f$]al ,employees ,heal? ,b5efits  
,program1 & "u private insurance4  7#f7 
,! ,m$ic>e program ne$s to be updat$ 9 a
 compreh5sive way s ,m$ic>e b5efici>ies 
are able to h access to all ( !         
advancem5ts 9 ! deliv]y ( audiologic    
c>e4  #c4 ,improv$ ,m$ic>e cov]age (    
audiology s]vices  7a7 ,treatm5t (      
audiologi/s z physicians = purposes (   
furni%+ audiology s]vices ,! fir/ s5t5ce
 ( section #ahfa7r7 ( ! ,social         
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7r77
 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ or be=e 7#e72 
&  7#b7 by ins]t+ be=e ! p]iod ! foll[+3

 1 or 7#f7 a qualifi$ audiologi/1 b only
 ) respect to ! furni%+ ( audiology     
s]vices describ$ 9 subsection 7ll77#c7 =
 :i* ! qualifi$ audiologi/ is legally   
au?oriz$ to p]=m by ! ,/ate & :o is act+
 )9 ! scope ( ! audiologi/'s lic5se 7or 
o!r au?orization "u ,/ate law74  7b7    
,improv$ access to audiology s]vices    
available = cov]age "u ! ,m$ic>e program
 & enabl+ ,m$ic>e b5efici>ies ,to h _!  
*oice ( qualifi$ audiologi/ ,section    
#ahfa7ll77#c7 ( ! ,social ,security ,act
 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7ll77#c77 is      
am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ he>+ & balance    
assessm5t2  7#b7 by /rik+ 1 z w\ld      
o!rwise be cov]$ if furni%$ by a        
physician2 &  7#c7 by ins]t+ be=e !     
p]iod at ! end ! foll[+3 1 )\t reg>d to 
any requirem5t t ! individual receiv+ ! 
audiology s]vices be "u ! c>e ( 7or     
ref]r$ by7 a physician or o!r heal? c>e 
practition] or t su* s]vices are provid$
 "u ! sup]vision ( a physician or o!r   
heal? c>e practition]4  7c7 ,effective  
date ,! am5dm5ts made by ?is section    

%all apply to items & s]vices furni%$ on
 or aft] ,janu>y #a ( ! fir/ ye> beg9n+ 
m ?an #f mon?s aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t 
( ?is ,act4