HR 500 Re-checks Congress.gov for new actions and updates the bill's status, and fills in any sponsors, committees, or related bills that are missing. It does not re-pull sponsors/cosponsors/committees/related — those rarely change — and it skips all work if nothing has changed upstream, so it's cheap to click.
Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act of 2025
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion of Medicare coverage for hearing aids and examinations therefor, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill removes the exclusion that currently prevents Medicare from covering hearing aids and hearing exams, effective January 1, 2026. Currently, Medicare does not cover these services; after this change, they would be covered under Medicare benefits. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to study existing hearing aid assistance programs and report to Congress within 18 months with recommendations on how to better meet the needs of individuals with hearing loss.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
29 cosponsors
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC)
- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ)
- Rep. Bynum, Janelle [D-OR-5] (D-OR)
- Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] (D-TX)
- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL)
- Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6] (D-SC)
- Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37] (D-TX)
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA)
- Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10] (D-FL)
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ)
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA)
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT)
- Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL)
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA)
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT)
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY)
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA)
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA)
- Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] (D-CA)
- Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8] (D-MI)
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ)
- Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23] (D-FL)
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA)
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI)
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL)
- Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] (D-WA)
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI)
- Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] (D-CA)
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI)
Actions (2)
- Jan 16, 2025 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. · house
- Jan 16, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 16, 2025
Mrs. Dingell (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Schakowsky, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. Norton, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Harder of California, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Bynum, Ms. Tlaib, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Moskowitz, and Mr. Lieu) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion of Medicare coverage for hearing aids and examinations therefor, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. REMOVING MEDICARE EXCLUSION OF COVERAGE OF HEARING AIDS AND EXAMINATIONS THEREFOR.
(a) In General.—Section 1862(a)(7) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(7)) is amended by striking “hearing aids or examinations therefor,”.
(b) Effective Date.—The amendment made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2026.
SEC. 3. GAO STUDY AND REPORT ON HEARING AID PROGRAMS.
(a) Study.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of programs, including Federal programs and health insurance coverage, that provide assistance for hearing aids and related examinations for individuals with hearing loss. Such study shall include an examination of the number of individuals in the United States with hearing loss who need hearing aids, their coverage under such programs, and the effectiveness of such programs in meeting such need. Such study may also address programs that are designed to reduce or mitigate the incidence of hearing loss.
(b) Report.—Not later than 18 months after the date specified in section 2(b), the Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress on the study conducted under subsection (a). Such report shall include such recommendations on changes in such programs, including the establishment of new programs, as would meet the needs of individuals with hearing loss. <all>
Comments