A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to include licensed hearing aid specialists as eligible for appointment in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to include licensed hearing aid specialists as eligible for appointment in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 1. Appointment of licensed hearing aid specialists in Veterans Health Administration (a) Licensed hearing aid specialists (1) Appointment Section 7401(3) licensed hearing aid specialists, Audiologists, (2) Qualifications Section 7402(b)(14) of such title is amended by inserting licensed hearing aid specialist, licensed physical therapist, (b) Annual report (1) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the following: (A) Timely access of veterans to hearing health services through the Department of Veterans Affairs. (B) Contracting policies of the Department with respect to providing hearing health services to veterans in facilities that are not facilities of the Department. (2) Timely access to services Each report shall, with respect to the matter specified in paragraph (1)(A) for the one-year period preceding the submittal of such report, include the following: (A) The staffing levels of audiologists, hearing aid specialists, and health technicians in audiology in the Veterans Health Administration. (B) A description of the metrics used by the Secretary in measuring performance with respect to appointments and care relating to hearing health. (C) The average time that a veteran waits to receive an appointment, beginning on the date on which the veteran makes the request, for the following: (i) A disability rating evaluation for a hearing-related disability. (ii) A hearing aid evaluation. (iii) Dispensing of hearing aids. (iv) Any follow-up hearing health appointment. (D) The percentage of veterans whose total wait time for appointments described in subparagraph (C), including an initial and follow-up appointment, if applicable, is— (i) less than 15 days; (ii) between 15 days and 28 days; (iii) between 29 days and 42 days; (iv) between 43 days and 56 days; or (v) more than 56 days. (3) Contracting policies Each report shall, with respect to the matter specified in paragraph (1)(B) for the one-year period preceding the submittal of such report, include the following: (A) The number of veterans that the Secretary refers to non-Department audiologists for hearing health care appointments. (B) Of the veterans described in subparagraph (A), the number of veterans that the Secretary refers to non-Department hearing aid specialists for follow-up appointments for a hearing aid evaluation, the dispensing of hearing aids, or any other purpose relating to hearing health. (C) The policies of the Veterans Health Administration regarding the referral of veterans to non-Department hearing aid specialists and a description of the manner in which such policies will be applied under the Patient-Centered Community Care program of the Department.

Summary: Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to appoint licensed hearing aid specialists in the Veterans Health Administration. Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report on: (1) timely access of veterans to hearing health services through the VA, and (2) contracting policies of the VA with respect to providing hearing health services to veterans in non-VA facilities.