PRINTER'S NO. 1893
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
181
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, HOHENSTEIN, CIRESI, SANCHEZ, GUENST,
D. WILLIAMS, MADDEN, SCHLOSSBERG, SAPPEY, McNEILL, BURGOS,
FIEDLER, HILL-EVANS, KHAN, N. NELSON, OTTEN, O'MARA, ROZZI,
FREEMAN, BOROWSKI, T. DAVIS, CERRATO, HARKINS, WEBSTER, KIM,
SHUSTERMAN, HADDOCK, HOWARD, DELLOSO AND PROBST,
AUGUST 8, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, AUGUST 8, 2023
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
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from Medicare Part D; and
(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 63.9 million Americans, including more
than 2.8 million residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
were enrolled in Medicare as of December 2021; 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
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an estimated 48 million Americans who are 12 years of age or
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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