HR 274 — A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to expand Medicare to include coverage of hearing aids.

PRINTER'S NO.    2039

                       THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



              HOUSE RESOLUTION
                 No. 274
                                                   Session of
                                                     2025

     INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, HOHENSTEIN, SANCHEZ, BRENNAN, GUENST,
        SCHLOSSBERG, KHAN, CIRESI, SHUSTERMAN, FREEMAN, O'MARA,
        OTTEN, WEBSTER, CERRATO AND GREEN, JUNE 25, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES,
        JUNE 25, 2025


                                    A RESOLUTION
 1   Urging the Congress of the United States to expand Medicare to
 2      include coverage of hearing aids.
 3         WHEREAS, Medicare is a Federal health insurance program for:
 4             (1)    individuals 65 years of age or older;
 5             (2)    individuals younger than 65 years of age who have
 6         certain disabilities; and
 7             (3)    individuals of all ages who have end-stage renal
 8         disease;
 9   and
10         WHEREAS, Medicare consists of four parts:
11             (1)    Medicare Part A, which provides hospital insurance;
12             (2)    Medicare Part B, which provides medical insurance;
13             (3)    Medicare Part C, which is popularly known as
14         "Medicare Advantage," and is a type of Medicare health plan
15         offered by a private company that includes benefits from
16         Medicare Parts A and B and that usually includes benefits
17         from Medicare Part D; and
 1             (4)     Medicare Part D, which provides prescription drug
 2         coverage;
 3   and
 4         WHEREAS, The Medicare program was signed into law on July 30,
 5   1965; and
 6         WHEREAS, More than 2.5 million Americans received hospital
 7   care covered by Medicare in the first six months of the program;
 8   and
 9         WHEREAS, More than 68 million Americans, including more than
10   2.9 million residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, were
11   enrolled in Medicare as of September 2024; and
12         WHEREAS, Medicare does not cover hearing examinations,
13   hearing aids or examinations for fitting hearing aids, and only
14   Medicare Part B covers diagnostic hearing and balance
15   examinations if ordered by a doctor to determine the necessity
16   of medical treatment; and
17         WHEREAS, There are three types of hearing loss:
18             (1)     conductive hearing loss, which involves the outer or
19         middle ear;
20             (2)     sensorineural hearing loss, which involves the inner
21         ear; and
22             (3)     mixed hearing loss, which involves a combination of
23         conductive and sensorineural hearing loss;
24   and
25         WHEREAS, There are four degrees of hearing loss, including
26   mild, moderate, severe and profound hearing loss, all of which
27   can impact an individual's work, social life and personal life;
28   and
29         WHEREAS, While hearing loss can occur at any age, it affects
30   an estimated 48 million Americans who are 12 years of age or

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 1   older; and
 2      WHEREAS, Hearing aids can greatly improve the quality of life
 3   of an individual with hearing loss; and
 4      WHEREAS, States cannot expand Medicare coverage to include
 5   hearing aids as Medicare is a Federal program; therefore be it
 6      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
 7   Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
 8   States to expand Medicare to include coverage of hearing aids;
 9   and be it further
10      RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
11   the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
12   member of Congress from Pennsylvania.




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