Veterans Hearing Health Expansion Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3088
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-12: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-12T09:07:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Veterans Hearing Health Expansion Act aims to broaden access to hearing care services for veterans by incorporating licensed hearing aid specialists into the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veterans Community Care Program. This program allows eligible veterans to receive certain medical services from community-based providers when VA facilities cannot meet their needs in a timely manner.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Existing Law: The bill modifies Section 1703(c) of Title 38, United States Code, which governs eligibility for providers in the Veterans Community Care Program.
- It redesignates existing paragraphs (2) through (5) as (3) through (6).
- It inserts a new paragraph (2) explicitly including "a hearing aid specialist licensed to furnish medical services in the State in which such hearing aid specialist is located" as an eligible provider.
- Scope: The inclusion applies to hearing aid specialists who are state-licensed to provide relevant medical services, focusing on hearing health needs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Prior to this amendment, Section 1703(c) listed specific types of providers eligible for the community care program but did not explicitly include licensed hearing aid specialists.
- This change expands the provider pool by adding a dedicated category for these specialists, making it easier for veterans to access hearing aid services outside VA facilities without needing to travel to distant locations.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA will need to update its processes to recognize and reimburse licensed hearing aid specialists under the community care program, potentially increasing administrative workload but also improving service delivery efficiency.
- On Citizens: Veterans with hearing impairments will gain better access to specialized hearing aid services in their local communities, reducing wait times and travel burdens. This could enhance overall quality of life for affected veterans.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the legislation is focused on domestic U.S. veteran healthcare.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans: Primary beneficiaries, particularly those eligible for VA healthcare who require hearing aids or related services.
- Licensed Hearing Aid Specialists: Gain eligibility to participate in the VA's community care network, potentially increasing their patient base and reimbursement opportunities.
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Responsible for implementing the changes, including provider verification and program administration.
- State Licensing Boards: Indirectly involved, as the bill relies on state-level licensing standards for eligibility.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the framework of the Veterans Community Care Program (established under the VA MISSION Act of 2018) by clarifying provider eligibility, which could lead to fewer disputes over access to care. No conflicts with existing federal laws are evident.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under Article I, Section 8 to provide for the general welfare, including veteran benefits; no apparent challenges to due process or equal protection.
- Political: Supports ongoing efforts to improve veteran healthcare access, potentially appealing to bipartisan interests in military support, but may involve debates over program costs and expansion of community-based care versus in-house VA services.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-12: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Veterans Hearing Health Expansion Act — issued 2025-04-30 — PDF (2 pages)