Hearing Aid Legislation in Trouble
Submitted by Todd Hash on Wed, 03/24/2010 - 2:31pm.
Legislation that would require health insurers to cover hearing aids for children hit a snag yesterday with 4 Senators voting to approve it, 3 voting to abstain, and others absent. It only needed 5 votes and as a result the Senate Commerce Committee failed approve the bill. However, we may get a second chance to pass it out of that committee.
If your legislator is on the Commerce Committee please contact them immediately, today, and ask that they support the legislation.
A few things to keep in mind when contacting your personal legislator: 1) be polite, personable, and include a personal story if you have one that is relevant, 2) give the bill number – SB 160, and 3) provide your contact information (address) so the legislator knows that you live in their districts. If sending an email, please copy us at news@tndisability.org so we can track our success! Please only contact legislators who represent your district or with whom you have a personal relationship.
Children's Hearing Aid Legislation (SB 160 by Ketron / HB 636 by Maggart) - Will improve health care and educational outcomes for children with hearing loss by requiring insurance plans to include coverage for hearing aids. This is supported by the Coalition and a wide range of partners. Please ask your legislator to support it.
Senate Commerce Committee - Click a legislator's name to get their contact information.
Reginald Tate - Dist. 33 - Part of Shelby County
Jack Johnson - Dist. 23 - Williamson & Parts of Davidson Co.
Dewayne Bunch - Dist. 9 - Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, and Polk Counties
Charlotte Burks - Dist. 15 - Cumberland, Jackson, Overton, Pickett, Putnam & White Counties
Mae Beavers - Dist. 17 - Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, Wilson and part of Sumner County.
Tim Burchett - Dist. 7 - Part of Knox County
Bill Ketron - Dist. 13 - Lincoln, Marshall, Maury and part of Rutherford County.
Steve Southerland - Dist. 1 - Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, and Unicoi Counties
Eric Stewart - Dist. 14 - Franklin, Bledsoe, Coffee, Grundy, Sequatchie, Van Buren and Warren Counties.
