RE: S.1955, Voiding State Mandates for Hearing Loss Services

[Guest guest]

Does anyone have a web link that can take us to

information about this issue?

Deb

--- Mark Kovar <deafcanhear@...> wrote:

> The Senate HELP Committee passed a bill last week

> that would pre-empt all state regulation of health

> plans, including small group and individual plans.

>

> S.1955 would thus effectively render all mandates

> for hearing loss services null and void, unless the

> service is covered by the state employees plan for

> one of the largest 5 states (CA, TX, NY, FL, IL).

> this includes presumably cochlear implants, hearing

> aids, newborn infant screening, etc.

>

> The bill is expected to pass on the Senate floor

> and become law within the next few weeks.

>

> What are ASHA, SHHH, and other hearing loss groups

> doing to oppose this bill? Or are hearing loss

> services sufficiently covered under these state

> employee plans such that S.1955 is not a concern?

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Sure, Deb! This post first appeared on the York Forum and bh News,

03/22/2006; full text to follow:

The Senate HELP Committee passed a bill last week that would pre-empt all

state regulation of health plans, including small group and individual

plans.

S.1955 would thus effectively render all state mandates for hearing loss

services null and void, unless the service is covered by the state employees

plan for one of the largest 5 states (CA, TX, NY, FL, IL). Presumably this

would include state laws requiring coverage of newborn infant hearing

screenings, hearing aids, cochlear implants, etc.

A vote on the Senate floor is expected within the next few weeks. The bill

is expected to pass and become law.

I work for a small advocacy group representing persons with severe and rare

disorders, who are understandably very alarmed by this bill and would like

to join forces with other groups in opposing it.

What are the American Speech Language Hearing Association, Self Help for

Hard of Hearing, and other hearing loss related groups doing to oppose this?

Or are hearing services sufficiently covered under those state employee

plans so that this bill is not a concern for them?

------------------

Mark Hobratschk, MPA, JD

( Admin@... )

...........

For details and full text of the legislation:

http://thomas.loc.gov/ Search by bill# - S.1955

Bob

..............................

> Re: S.1955, Voiding State Mandates for Hearing Loss

> Services

>

>

> Does anyone have a web link that can take us to

> information about this issue?

>

> Deb

>

> --- Mark Kovar <deafcanhear@...> wrote:

>

> > The Senate HELP Committee passed a bill last week

> > that would pre-empt all state regulation of health

> > plans, including small group and individual plans.

> >

> > S.1955 would thus effectively render all mandates

> > for hearing loss services null and void, unless the

> > service is covered by the state employees plan for

> > one of the largest 5 states (CA, TX, NY, FL, IL).

> > this includes presumably cochlear implants, hearing

> > aids, newborn infant screening, etc.

> >

> > The bill is expected to pass on the Senate floor

> > and become law within the next few weeks.

> >

> > What are ASHA, SHHH, and other hearing loss groups

> > doing to oppose this bill? Or are hearing loss

> > services sufficiently covered under these state

> > employee plans such that S.1955 is not a concern?

> >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >