By Linda Colsen, Senior VP of Product Management, One Call
In October 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a rule to establish a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids.
This rule is tied to the implementation of legislation passed back in 2017 that allows the new category of hearing aids to be sold direct to individuals – without a medical exam or fitting by an audiologist. The rule aims to increase access, innovation, and competition by lowering the barrier to entry for new manufacturers and creating a larger marketplace for these devices.
Some OTC hearing aids are available today – and usually cost significantly less than prescription-based hearing aids. More choices and lower costs mean easier access to these devices for those with hearing issues. According to the FDA, 15 percent of Americans, roughly 37.5 million people over the age of 18, report some trouble hearing; however, only one-fifth who would benefit from a hearing aid use one.
Challenges for Workers’ Compensation
While the intent of the new regulation is positive, it’s not without challenges for the workers’ compensation industry. To successfully incorporate non-prescription devices into our medical device offerings, it’s important that payers and injured workers understand the difference between prescription and OTC hearing aids and what it means for them.
- Lack of medical oversight
The workers’ compensation industry has always required a medical exam to identify on-the-job hearing loss and prescribed hearing aids covered by the insurer. This new regulation may encourage injured workers to self-diagnose instead of visiting a doctor, purchasing a hearing aid when it may not be the most suitable option for their needs. - Reimbursement confusion
If an injured worker doesn’t go to a physician to get diagnosed, it will be difficult to directly correlate hearing loss to a workplace incident. Without a prescription from a doctor, insurer reimbursement of an OTC hearing aid will be unlikely.
What’s Next
As more OTC hearing aids become available in the marketplace, I encourage all of us to approach this change with an open mind, carefully considering how this new regulation should impact our current processes to better serve injured workers. In a stressful, busy world, we all want more convenient, cost-effective healthcare options made available … OTC hearing aids will certainly not be the last.
Let’s make sure we continue to strive for innovation in our industry, removing barriers whenever possible so injured workers with hearing loss can take full advantage of these new, more accessible options.
About Linda Colsen
Linda Colsen is senior vice president of product management at One Call. In her role, Linda oversees the development and enhancement of One Call’s care coordination solutions. From core solutions, such as physical therapy and diagnostics, to specialty programs that address more complex needs, such as In-Patient Facility Solutions and One Call® CarePath™ injury-specific recovery pathways, Linda and her team are dedicated to delivering care coordination that bridges gaps and streamlines processes within claims management. Her commitment to excellence continually earns her the respect and trust of clients, providers, and injured workers alike.
For nearly 15 years, Linda has served One Call in various leadership roles. Prior to One Call, she was a principal consultant with both IBM Business Consulting Services and PWC Consulting, where she focused on business process design and reengineering, with an emphasis on customer engagement and experience.
About One Call
As a leader in the workers’ compensation industry, One Call has an unwavering commitment to getting people the care they need when they need it. Leveraging more than 30 years of industry experience and innovative solutions, we are moving people through their care journeys better than ever before, providing exceptional, predictive, and responsive care coordination. For more information and the latest news, visit us at onecallcm.com, LinkedIn (One Call), Facebook (@onecallcm), and Twitter (@onecallcm).
Disclosure:
One Call is a WorkCompWire ad partner.
This is NOT a paid placement.