H.R. 9001

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9001 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9001

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a 
demonstration project on coverage by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
of over-the-counter hearing aids, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 21, 2026

Mr. Self (for himself, Mr. Mullin, and Mr. Van Orden) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a 
demonstration project on coverage by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
of over-the-counter hearing aids, 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 ``Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act 
of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ON COVERAGE BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS OF OVER-THE-COUNTER HEARING AIDS.

(a) Establishment of Demonstration Project.--Beginning not later 
than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs (in this section referred to as the 
``Secretary'') shall commence a project (in this section referred to as 
the ``demonstration project'') to demonstrate and evaluate the fiscal 
impact of covering FDA-cleared, over-the-counter hearing aids under 
section 1707(b) of title 38, United States Code, in the same or similar 
manner as coverage is provided for prescription hearing aids under such 
section.
(b) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the demonstration 
project for a period of two years.
(c) Eligible Participants.--A veteran is eligible to participate in 
the demonstration project if--
(1) the veteran is enrolled in the system of annual patient 
enrollment established and operated under section 1705(a) of 
title 38, United States Code;
(2) an audiologist determines, through a clinical 
evaluation of the veteran, that--
(A) furnishing an over-the-counter hearing aid to 
the veteran for mild-to-moderate hearing loss is 
medically necessary; and
(B) the veteran has no red flag conditions or 
contraindications for over-the-counter hearing aid use, 
as specified by the Food and Drug Administration; and
(3) the veteran has access to a mobile phone device and 
mobile data or Wi-Fi, or any successor technology, to operate 
over-the-counter hearing aid functionality.
(d) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the demonstration 
project at not fewer than two medical facilities of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs selected by the Secretary across different Veterans 
Integrated Services Networks and that have a demonstrated ability to 
reduce access barriers and provide services to a diverse veteran 
population in both rural and urban settings and surrounding areas.
(e) Project Design.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall design the 
demonstration project to demonstrate the effectiveness of FDA-
cleared, over-the-counter hearing aids compared to 
professionally fitted prescription hearing aids by an 
audiologist according to the audiological best practices of the 
Department of Veterans of Affairs, including the fiscal impact 
on the Department of providing permanent coverage of over-the-
counter hearing aids under section 1707(b) of title 38, United 
States Code.
(2) Design elements.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure the 
demonstration project includes the following study 
groups:
(i) An FDA-cleared, over the counter 
hearing aid group.
(ii) An audiologist-fitted prescription 
hearing aid group.
(B) Participants.--The Secretary shall allocate an 
approximately equal number of participants in the 
demonstration project to each group specified in 
subparagraph (A).
(f) Measurement of Benefits.--To the maximum extent possible, in 
carrying out the demonstration project, the Secretary shall measure 
both self-reported benefits and speech recognition in noise among a 
diverse veteran population and evaluate the fiscal impact over a two-
year follow-up period of permanent coverage of over-the-counter hearing 
aids under section 1707(b) of title 38, United States Code, for the 
FDA-cleared, over-the-counter hearing aids found under the 
demonstration project to be most beneficial.
(g) Consultation.--In conducting the demonstration project, the 
Secretary shall consult with organizations that represent consumers 
with mild-to-moderate hearing loss and other stakeholder organizations.
(h) Reports.--
(1) Interim report.--Not later than one year after the 
commencement of the demonstration project, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives a report that describes the progress and 
preliminary findings from the demonstration project.
(2) Final report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
last day of the demonstration project and after 
solicitation and consideration of formal written input 
on the project from organizations specified under 
subsection (g), the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives a final report on the project.
(B) Elements.--The report required under 
subparagraph (A) shall include an evaluation of the 
fiscal impact on the Department of Veterans Affairs of 
providing permanent coverage of over-the-counter 
hearing aids under section 1707(b) of title 38, United 
States Code, and such other findings and 
recommendations as the Secretary determines 
appropriate.
(i) FDA-Cleared, Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Defined.--In this 
section, the term ``FDA-cleared, over-the-counter hearing aid'' means a 
device--
(1) cleared by the Food and Drug Administration;
(2) fully regulated by the Food and Drug Administration 
under section 520(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act (21 U.S.C. 360j(q)); and
(3) that contains features that allow personalization 
through technology, such as hearing tests, software, and smart 
phone applications.

SEC. 3. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY AND REPORT ON VETERANS HEARING AID 
BENEFITS.

(a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study on the furnishing to veterans with mild-to-moderate 
hearing loss under section 1707(b) of title 38, United States Code, of 
assistance for hearing aids and related examinations.
(b) Elements.--The study required under subsection (a)--
(1) shall include an examination of--
(A) the number of individuals in the United States 
with mild-to-moderate hearing loss who need hearing 
aids;
(B) the medical coverage of such individuals 
relating to obtaining hearing aids; and
(C) the effectiveness of such medical coverage in 
meeting such need; and
(2) may include an examination of contract design for 
purchasing hearing aid devices.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit 
to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection 
(a).
(2) Recommendations.--The report required under paragraph 
(1) shall include such recommendations on changes to programs 
and benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including 
the establishment of new programs and benefits, as would meet 
the needs of veterans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.
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