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In its annual call letter to health plans participating in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is recommending health plans increase coverage of hearing benefits for newborns and children. Health plans are encouraged to include screenings, tests, diagnostic evaluations, and treatment by a licensed hearing professional, including audiologists, as well as coverage of hearing aids. OPM recognized enhanced newborn and pediatric audiologic benefits as one of the agency's key initiatives for 2008. FEHB plans cover over 8 million active and retired federal workers and their dependents.
The OPM call letter, which solicits health plan proposals for 2008 participation in FEHBP, provides health plans with recommended changes to enhance federal employee health care benefits. Although health plans are not mandated to include OPM's key initiatives in their proposals, it is anticipated that many plans will comply with the requested changes. The full letter can be found on OPM's Web site [PDF].
This policy shift is a direct result of lobbying efforts by ASHA in meetings with the agency. ASHA provided OPM with an analysis of audiology coverage of all nationwide FEHB plans and a sample of state-based plans which demonstrated that coverage of audiologic services was limited and did not address the needs of infants and children with needs for audiology services. For further information, please contact ASHA's Health Care Economics and Advocacy Team at reimbursement@asha.org.
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