Current Missouri law does not provide hearing aids or cochlear implants to all low-income adults on Medicaid. That is set to change on Thursday when Rep. Cameron Parker’s bill officially becomes law.
“It will allow hearing aids and cochlear implants to be provided to all Missouri HealthNet and Missouri Medicaid patients, not just for low-income children, pregnant women, or the visually impaired people,” Parker told Missourinet.
Rep. Jo Doll, D-St. Louis County, co-sponsored the bipartisan legislation.
Nationwide, 37 states provide Medicaid coverage to low-income adults who need hearing aids or cochlear implants. On Thursday, that number will change to 38.
“They have comprehensive coverage for hearing aids and cochlear implants, so we’re not leading the pack in the United States on this. We’re kind of trailing,” said Parker. “And so, this is something that we need to correct.”
Parker, R-Campbell, said she expects the new law could help about 15,000 Missourians who are hard of hearing.
“I mean, if you cannot hear folks, you can’t communicate with your peers, you can’t work. There’s so many different things that it limits your ability to have quality of life,” said Parker. “Studies show that if you have hearing loss or hearing damage, it increases your mental health issues. Also, if your elderly, it increases the risk of fall.”
According to Parker, the bill will improve the quality of life for these Missourians.
“And I truly believe that the benefit will really outweigh the cost of this, you know, and it will help so many Missourians – them being able to be back in society, communicating, working, being productive in society, who can do that. I think that will offset much of the budget concern,” she said.
The overall cost of the expanded coverage is about $13 million over three years, with Missouri’s slice being about $3.16 million and the rest being the federal government’s responsibility.
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