Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a two-year test program at the Department of Veterans Affairs to see if providing over-the-counter hearing aids is a good idea. Currently, the VA mostly provides prescription hearing aids that must be fitted by a specialist.
• Veterans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss could get these devices if a VA doctor says they are medically necessary. To use them, veterans would need a smartphone and internet access to set up the hearing aid software.
• The project will happen at at least two VA hospitals, including one in a rural area and one in a city. Researchers will compare how well the cheaper over-the-counter aids work compared to the more expensive prescription ones.
• The goal is to find out if the VA can save money while still giving veterans high-quality care. After the test ends, the VA will report to Congress on whether they should make this a permanent benefit for all veterans.

Impact Analysis

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