H.R. 6218

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6218 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6218

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage 
under the Medicare program of hearing aids and related hearing 
services.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 20, 2025

Mr. Mullin (for himself, Mr. Lawler, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Takano, Ms. Dean 
of Pennsylvania, Mr. Deluzio, and Mr. Johnson of Georgia) 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 provide for coverage 
under the Medicare program of hearing aids and related hearing 
services.

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 ``Help Extend Auditory Relief Act of 
2025'' or the ``HEAR Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF HEARING REHABILITATION.

(a) Coverage of Aural Rehabilitation Services.--Section 1861(s)(2) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (JJ) by adding ``and'' at the end; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(KK) aural rehabilitation services (as described in 
subsection (nnn)(1)(A));''.
(b) Coverage of Hearing Aids as Durable Medical Equipment.--Section 
1861(s)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(8)) is 
amended by inserting ``and hearing aids (as defined in subsection 
(nnn)(3))'' before the period.
(c) Hearing Rehabilitation and Hearing Aid Defined.--Section 1861 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:

``Hearing Rehabilitation

``(nnn)(1) The term `hearing rehabilitation' means--
``(A) aural rehabilitation services (described in paragraph 
(2)) which meet such requirements as the Secretary prescribes 
and which are furnished by a physician or qualified 
audiologist, who is legally authorized to furnish such services 
under the State law (or the State regulatory mechanism provided 
by State law) of the State in which the services are furnished; 
and
``(B) hearing aids (as defined in paragraph (3)).
``(2) The services described in this subparagraph include--
``(A) aural rehabilitation services;
``(B) in the case of an individual who has a hearing loss 
(as defined by the Secretary), a comprehensive audiologic 
assessment to determine if a hearing aid is appropriate and to 
determine the need for other diagnostic medical or audiologic 
testing; and
``(C) a threshold test to determine audio acuity.
``(3)(A) The term `hearing aid' means a hearing aid described in 
subparagraph (B), including the services described in subparagraph (C) 
furnished by a physician or qualified audiologist, who is legally 
authorized to supply such hearing aid under the State law (or State 
regulatory mechanism provided by State law) of the State in which the 
hearing aid is supplied, to an individual described in subparagraph 
(D).
``(B) A hearing aid described in this subparagraph is any wearable 
instrument or device for, offered for the purpose of, or represented as 
aiding individuals with, or compensating for, hearing loss that meets 
requirements of the Food and Drug Administration for marketing, but 
does not include an over-the-counter hearing aid (as defined in section 
520(q)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act).
``(C) The services described in this subparagraph include--
``(i) audiology services (as defined in subsection 
(ll)(2));
``(ii) a hearing aid assessment to determine the 
appropriate hearing aid for the individual;
``(iii) procurement of an appropriate hearing aid;
``(iv) initial fitting and adjustment of the hearing aid;
``(v) appropriate instruction on the use of the hearing 
aid;
``(vi) periodic refittings and adjustments; and
``(vii) rehabilitation, including counseling on hearing 
loss, speech reading, and auditory training.
``(D) The individuals described in this subparagraph--
``(i) have been determined (as a result of a comprehensive 
audiologic assessment) to have a hearing loss which can be 
appropriately treated with a hearing aid;
``(ii) have not been supplied with one monaural hearing aid 
or two binaural hearing aids during the preceding 3 years; and
``(iii) have had a comprehensive audiologic assessment 
which indicates that the hearing of such individual has 
deteriorated since such individual was last supplied with a 
hearing aid such that a hearing aid of a different type is 
appropriate for such individual.''.
(d) Inclusion of Audiology Rehabilitation Services.--Section 
1861(ll)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ll)(3)) is 
amended by inserting ``and rehabilitation'' after ``balance 
assessment''.
(e) Exception to Exclusions From Coverage.--Section 1862(a) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (O), by striking ``and'' at the 
end;
(B) in subparagraph (P); by striking the semicolon 
at the end and inserting ``, and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
``(Q) in the case of hearing rehabilitation, which is 
furnished or supplied more frequently than is provided under 
section 1861(nnn)(3)(D)(ii).''; and
(2) in paragraph (7) by striking ``hearing aids or 
examinations therefor''.
(f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply to 
items and services furnished on or after a date specified by the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services that is not sooner than January 
1 of the first year beginning after such date of enactment and not 
later than January 1 of the third year beginning after such date of 
enactment.
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