Direct Access Bill

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AAO-HNS/IHS AD

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ASHA/AAA/ADA LETTER

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SAMPLE DIRECT ACCESS  LETTER

The Hearing Health Accessibility Act for the 109th Congress (HR 415) was introduced in the House of Representative on January 25, 2005 by Rep. Jim Ryun (R-KS). This bill would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for direct access to audiologists for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes.  A Senate companion bill(S 277)was introduced by Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD), joined by Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA. on February 3, 2005.

The AAO-HNS and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) have expressed opposition to this legislation and are seeking to stop Members from supporting this legislation while encouraging our current cosponsors to withdraw their support.  A letter from ACS was written to the House of Representatives on April 14, 2005 and a newspaper ad sponsored by AAO-HNS/IHS was in a Washington paper (click link above). Two cosponsors have withdrawn their support - Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).  A letter from ASHA/AAA/ADA was sent to Congress on June 1, 2005.  (click link above).

CALL TO ACTION:

1.  Use the sample DIRECT ACCESS Letter above to customize your letter to ask Senator Voinovich to support the Hearing Health Accessibility Act.  He can be reached at:

The Honorable George Voinovich
524 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3504

2. Send a Thank You note to Senator DeWine to thank him for cosponsoring the bill in the Senate.  He can be reached at:

The Honorable Mike DeWine
United States Senate
140 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510‑3503

3.  Tell relatives, patients and colleagues to send a letter in support.  All voices are important.  Opposition to this bill by AAO-HNS and IHS is very strong.