Sec. 4. APPOINTMENT OF LICENSED HEARING AID SPECIALISTS IN VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
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## SEC. 4 APPOINTMENT OF LICENSED HEARING AID SPECIALISTS IN VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION ###
(a)Licensed Hearing Aid Specialists ####
(1)Appointment Section 7401(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting “licensed hearing aid specialists,” after “Audiologists,”. ####
(2)Qualifications Section 7402(b)(14) of such title is amended by inserting “, hearing aid specialist” after “dental technologist”. ###
(b)Requirements **[**[38 U.S.C. 7401 note](/us/usc/t38/s7401)**]** With respect to appointing hearing aid specialists under sections 7401 and 7402 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), and providing services furnished by such specialists, the Secretary shall ensure that— ####
(1)a hearing aid specialist may only perform hearing services consistent with the hearing aid specialist’s State license related to the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids without excluding other qualified professionals, including audiologists, from rendering services in overlapping practice areas; ####
(2)services provided to veterans by hearing aid specialists shall be provided as part of the non-medical treatment plan developed by an audiologist; and ####
(3)the medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs provide to veterans access to the full range of professional services provided by an audiologist. ###
(c)Consultation **[**[38 U.S.C. 7401 note](/us/usc/t38/s7401)**]** In determining the qualifications required for hearing aid specialists and in carrying out subsection (b), the Secretary shall consult with veterans service organizations, audiologists, otolaryngologists, hearing aid specialists, and other stakeholder and industry groups as the Secretary determines appropriate. ###
(d)Annual Report ####
(1)In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the following: #####
(A)Timely access of veterans to hearing health services through the Department of Veterans Affairs. #####
(B)Contracting policies of the Department with respect to providing hearing health services to veterans in facilities that are not facilities of the Department. ####
(2)Timely access to services Each report shall, with respect to the matter specified in paragraph (1)(A) for the 1-year period preceding the submittal of such report, include the following: #####
(A)The staffing levels of audiologists, hearing aid specialists, and health technicians in audiology in the Veterans Health Administration. #####
(B)A description of the metrics used by the Secretary in measuring performance with respect to appointments and care relating to hearing health. #####
(C)The average time that a veteran waits to receive an appointment, beginning on the date on which the veteran makes the request, for the following: ######
(i)A disability rating evaluation for a hearing-related disability. ######
(ii)A hearing aid evaluation. ######
(iii)Dispensing of hearing aids. ######
(iv)Any follow-up hearing health appointment. #####
(D)The percentage of veterans whose total wait time for appointments described in subparagraph (C), including an initial and follow-up appointment, if applicable, is more than 30 days. ####
(3)Contracting policies Each report shall, with respect to the matter specified in paragraph (1)(B) for the 1-year period preceding the submittal of such report, include the following: #####
(A)The number of veterans that the Secretary refers to non-Department audiologists for hearing health care appointments. #####
(B)The number of veterans that the Secretary refers to non-Department hearing aid specialists for follow-up appointments for a hearing aid evaluation, the dispensing of hearing aids, or any other purpose relating to hearing health.
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Sec. 4
APPOINTMENT OF LICENSED HEARING AID SPECIALISTS IN VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
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