Hearing Loss Association of America | Boston Chapter
Serving Boston, Massachusetts and the surrounding area, our mission is to empower people who have hearing loss by facilitating opportunities for social engagement, education and skill development.
Check out the latest news and updates from HLAA Boston Chapter!
We hope to see you soon as we launch meetings starting October 2nd immediately following the annual New England Walk4Hearing. You do not need to walk to attend the meeting but please check out Walk info at https://www.walk4hearing.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=locations
Happy rest of your summer!
-Liz Olson
volunteer leader for HLAA Boston Chapter
HLAA Makes News as Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Move Closer to Store Shelves
On Tuesday, August 16, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the final rule for hearing aids sold directly to consumers, without a prescription. This will open the market to a new class of devices for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Executive Director Barbara Kelley is featured on many top media outlets as the news breaks. She talks about why HLAA supports this additional pathway to hearing health care.
While these devices aren’t for everyone, it’s an exciting step to help some treat hearing loss sooner.
DON’T MISS IT! BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
Boston Chapter HLAA – IN PERSON PICNIC – Saturday, June 18th from 12:00 – 3:00 pm
We are meeting outside and in person!!!
With special guest Alex Westner and his wife, Marilyn, creators of Xander caption glasses.
Join us for BBQ lunch, socializing, and learning from peers living with hearing loss.
Hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled veggies, and drinks will be provided
The patio is behind 175 Harvey St. at Cornerstone / Cambridge
Please RSVP to hearatboston@gmail.com:
o How many people are coming?
o Vegetarian or other food preference (if any)
o If you want to/plan to bring dessert or appetizer
Are you up to date with COVID (vax/ booster)? Although we will be meeting outside, it is strongly recommended that you do a rapid test prior to arrival.
By car: Please note #175 isn’t on the street. For parking- ignore the “permit parking only” signs because the city has granted an exemption on Harvey and Jackson. Walk up the driveway and the common house is to your right. The patio is on the left side of the common house. From Route 2, the Cornerstone buildings are straight ahead at the end of Jackson.
By the MTA: Take the red line to Alewife, the last stop. There are exits on both ends of the platform: take the Russell Field/North Cambridge exit. Walk straight so the exit door is behind you and turn left before the field house. Follow the path around two sides of the field to the exit. When you exit onto the street Cornerstone is across the street on your left. Walk down the row of townhouses and turn left on the driveway between #181 and #173. The common house is on your right. It’s about a five-minute walk.
By #77 bus: If heading north toward Arlington: Get off at Cameron Ave. Cross Mass Ave at the light. If heading south toward Harvard Square: Get off at Cedar. You are now at Harvey St. Walk down Harvey St. almost to the end.
You will see two townhouses on the right (#171 and #173). Just past the two townhouses, turn right into the driveway. Our building, #175, is the four-story one to the right.
Map:
DON’T MISS IT! The Boston Chapter HLAA will host a Virtual Meeting to explore how bluetooth is changing the game for hearing technology. Join us to learn more!
Learn about upcoming Bluetooth LE Audio, dealing with frustrations, and persevering around technology.
We may sing “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” but we can try everything to see if we get what we need.
presented by Andrea Kaneb
hearing technology educator, advocate, and author
Gathering Sound
Zoom link to be sent to mailing list members closer to the date.
Newcomers are welcome – please email hearatboston@gmail.com
News from HLAA National Office…
HLAA is thrilled to announce that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act of 2021 (H.R. 5376) on November 19, 2021. The Build Back Better Act of 2021 includes the expansion of Medicare to cover hearing aids and services.
HLAA has spent years supporting the idea of Medicare coverage of hearing aids and hearing health services. This year, HLAA spent our time since the spring in talks with members of Congress and key committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate, encouraging them to vote YES! to expand Medicare to include hearing aids and services. That would mean for the first time, seniors who rely on Medicare to pay their medical bills would also be able to turn to Medicare to cover the cost of hearing aids and related services. We are happy to report that the U.S. House of Representatives listened!
The provisions for hearing aid and hearing health care coverage include:
This legislation also contains certain limitations, such as covering hearing aids – one per ear – not more than once during a 5-year period, only for hearing aids that are not over-the-counter hearing aids, for people with moderately severe, severe, or profound hearing loss. These hearing aids can be furnished by a written order of a physician, an audiologist or a hearing aid specialist.
The Build Back Better Act does not become law until both Houses come to agreement on the final language. Write to your U.S. Senators to urge them to include Medicare coverage of hearing aids and hearing health care services with a bill that mirrors the one passed by the House. There is still time to push this to the finish line! We can get this done!
Drawn from article on HLAA national website:
U.S. House of Representatives Expands Medicare to Cover Hearing Aids
