NWAA has grave concerns regarding recent changes at the Department of Education related to income-based student loan repayment plans.  The removal of applications for all income-based repayment plans following a ruling by the 8th Circuit Court will have dire consequences for audiologists and other medical professionals, as well as their patients and communities, in the Northwest and beyond. To read NWAA's open letter to Oregon Senators, please click this link: DOE Letter.pdf

Join NWAA in support Oregon Senate Bill 943! SB 943 will modernize audiologist' licensure laws to improve access, affordability, and quality of care for patients across the state and at every stage of life. 

To learn more about SB943 or to submit written testimony of support, please visit the Website for SB 943

You may recognize Abigail Heringer from TV shows like "The Bachelor" and "Bachelor in Paradise", or from her incredible Instagram influencing. Abigail can now add published author to her CV. Last month, The Deaf Girl was published by Sourcebooks. "Hopeful, vulnerable, and uplifting, The Deaf Girl shares Abigail's journey of navigating life with a profound hearing loss and her transformation from merely accepting her disability to embracing it wholeheartedly. This memoir serves as an inspiring reminder for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or struggled to embrace their differences, showcasing that every voice is worthy of being heard" (Amazon Books). To purchase a copy of The Deaf Girl follow this link to Amazon Books. It is also available as an audiobook on Audible.

21 states have passed newborn cCMV screening and education laws with 6 more states considering legislation. Oregon has the opportunity to join this nationwide movement. Please join OAA in championing this legislation. Don't leave our kids behind! 2025 cCMV One Pager.pdf

Last week, the Academy ramped up its advocacy for the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (MAAIA) by kicking off a grassroots messaging campaign. In collaboration with the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), we are reaching out to members of Congress who have yet to co-sponsor this critical bill. Follow this link for additional information from AAA regarding how you can help support MAAIA.

VA Community Care Network Provider Reimbursement Reduced

The VA has reduced reimbursement for Community Care Network providers by 30% for the second year in a row. To combat this, we're organizing a national letter writing campaign. As of 02/12/2024, 84 audiologists across America have reached out to participate. On the VACCN Facebook page, the majority voted to request 2023 reimbursement + the annual published inflation rate for social security which is 3.2%. It’s important for us to be unified in our request. 

A prewritten letter has been created for multiple Veterans to sign indicating their support of this movement. To download and use the pre-filled letter, click here

BCBS Federal Plan Requires Prior Authorization for hearing aids (01/03/2024)

BCBS Federal began requiring prior authorization for hearing aids at the beginning of 2024. The required documentation can be obtained from Avality. Follow these BCBS Guidelines for a full breakdown of what to expect. This clinical guideline will help determine if your patient meets the criteria. 

OAA FAQ on OTC Hearing Aid Regulations (10/20/2021)

The FDA recently released a draf of over-the-counter hearing aid regulations, and it has sparked a storm of talk on social media- but what is true? Check out the summary by the OAA Advocacy Chair, Bryan Greenaway, HERE.

AAA recently released a call-to-action regarding proposed changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Read more about this HERE.

OAA Response to OBOESLPA Licensing Rule Change Proposal.

We think it's a forward step, but needs refined.  Read more HERE.