Vern Buchanan’s hearing aids bill signed into law

President Donald Trump has signed legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan that will make hearing aids more affordable for millions of Americans.

“This bill could help improve the quality of life for nearly 50 million Americans who struggle to hear everyday conversations,” Buchanan said Monday. “Many people who need hearing aids cannot afford the high price tag of $4,000 or more.”

The “Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act” was folded into a broader bill to fund the Food and Drug Administration that Trump signed on Friday. The bill could bring the cost of a pair of hearing aids down from several thousand dollars to only a few hundred dollars when it takes effect.

The bill will also reduce costs by simplifying the hearing aid purchasing process. Currently, a formal medical evaluation is required before seniors can purchase hearing aids. In most cases, consumers can only buy hearing aids from audiologists — professionals trained in treating hearing problems — or licensed hearing aid sellers after the evaluation. The Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act would remove these requirements so the hearing aids could be purchased in a simple, over-the-counter fashion.

Mild to moderate hearing loss becomes nearly ubiquitous at older ages, affecting more than 60 percent of those in their 70s and nearly 80 percent of those over age 80. Yet only one older person in five currently wears hearing aids, according to the NY Times.

The bill had bipartisan support, with Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren and Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley among the sponsors in the Senate version.

Buchanan represents the fourth-highest number of seniors 65 and older of any district in the country. He noted that more than 48 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss — more than diabetes, cancer or vision trouble.