Hearing Device Coverage Clarification Act

This bill tells Medicare to make it clear that certain surgically implanted middle-ear hearing devices count as prosthetics, not hearing aids. Because hearing aids are excluded from Medicare, this change means these fully implanted devices would not be blocked by the “hearing aid” exclusion anymore.

Key points:

• Who is affected: People on Medicare who might benefit from a fully implanted active middle ear hearing device, and their healthcare providers.
• What changes: Medicare must clarify that these devices are prosthetics, so they are not subject to the hearing aid exclusion under the law.
• When: The clarification must happen within 60 days after the law takes effect.