11/26/2025
The PA House Aging and Older Adults Services Committee held a public hearing on HB 1670, long overdue legislation to require insurance coverage for hearing aids for adults in Pennsylvania, on November 19. PAA VP of Government Affairs Jim Shafer, AuD, along with leaders of the PA Speech-Language-Hearing Association testified in support of the legislation, which is jointly sponsored by Reps. Liz Hanbidge (D-Montgomery) and Joe Hohenstein (D-Philadelphia), citing the many connected health issues related to hearing loss, and how this benefit would greatly enhance the lives of many Pennsylvanians. Their testimony sparked much thoughtful discussion among the committee members, as this was the first time the House has considered the legislation, despite it having been introduced in several previous sessions. As expected the insurance industry delivered resisting testimony, citing the increased costs to the companies, at a time when premiums are already rising astronomically, as the federal government revises ACA requirements. The industry arguments were countered both by the PAA and PSHA testimony, but by several members of the committee, including Rep. Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia), who stated that hearing is a matter of personal dignity, and insurance companies continuing to deny this coverage is denying people dignity.
You can watch the video of the hearing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa5S3Jagr6o
The committee will now work to find compromise language that can result in a sufficient number of votes to pass the bill, and PAA will be at the table. It is imperative that members, and non-members, as well as patients and family members reach out to their state House members and tell their stories, and ask for swift passage of HB 1670. You can join this effort by clicking this link: https://www.votervoice.net/WannerAssoc/Campaigns/100076/Respond
If you want to contact your state Rep in person, you can find them here: https://www.palegis.us/find-my-legislator
