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

Bill Text

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
Urging the Congress of the United States to expand Medicare to
include coverage of hearing aids.
WHEREAS, Medicare is a Federal health insurance program for:
(1) individuals 65 years of age or older;
(2) individuals younger than 65 years of age who have
certain disabilities; and
(3) individuals of all ages who have end-stage renal
disease;
and
WHEREAS, Medicare consists of four parts:
(1) Medicare Part A, which provides hospital insurance;
(2) Medicare Part B, which provides medical insurance;
(3) Medicare Part C, which is popularly known as
"Medicare Advantage," and is a type of Medicare health plan
offered by a private company that includes benefits from
Medicare Parts A and B and that usually includes benefits
from Medicare Part D; and
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(4) Medicare Part D, which provides prescription drug
coverage;
and
WHEREAS, The Medicare program was signed into law on July 30,
1965; and
WHEREAS, More than 2.5 million Americans received hospital
care covered by Medicare in the first six months of the program;
and
WHEREAS, More than 68 million Americans, including more than
2.9 million residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, were
enrolled in Medicare as of September 2024; and
WHEREAS, Medicare does not cover hearing examinations,
hearing aids or examinations for fitting hearing aids, and only
Medicare Part B covers diagnostic hearing and balance
examinations if ordered by a doctor to determine the necessity
of medical treatment; and
WHEREAS, There are three types of hearing loss:
(1) conductive hearing loss, which involves the outer or
middle ear;
(2) sensorineural hearing loss, which involves the inner
ear; and
(3) mixed hearing loss, which involves a combination of
conductive and sensorineural hearing loss;
and
WHEREAS, There are four degrees of hearing loss, including
mild, moderate, severe and profound hearing loss, all of which
can impact an individual's work, social life and personal life;
and
WHEREAS, While hearing loss can occur at any age, it affects
an estimated 48 million Americans who are 12 years of age or
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older; and
WHEREAS, Hearing aids can greatly improve the quality of life
of an individual with hearing loss; and
WHEREAS, States cannot expand Medicare coverage to include
hearing aids as Medicare is a Federal program; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to expand Medicare to include coverage of hearing aids;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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