I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6445 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve coverage of 
audiology services under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 17, 2023 
Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Ms. 
SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. MACE, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mr. FITZPATRICK, 
Mr. TRONE, Mr. WEBSTER of Florida, Mr. COHEN, Mr. LAMALFA, Mr. 
GRIJALVA, Mr. FOSTER, and Mr. POCAN) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve 
coverage of audiology services under the Medicare pro-
gram, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medicare Audiology 
Access Improvement Act of 2023’’. 
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SEC. 2. COVERAGE OF AUDIOLOGY SERVICES UNDER THE 
MEDICARE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (JJ), by striking the semi-
colon at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(KK) audiology services (as defined in sub-
section (ll)(3));’’; and 
(b) IMPROVED ACCESS TO AUDIOLOGY SERVICES.— 
Paragraph (3) of section 1861(ll) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ll)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) The term ‘audiology services’ means such hear-
ing and balance assessment services furnished on or before 
December 31, 2024, and beginning January 1, 2025, such 
diagnostic or treatment services furnished by a qualified 
audiologist which the qualified audiologist is legally au-
thorized to perform under State law (or the regulatory 
mechanism provided by State law), as would otherwise be 
covered if furnished by a physician or as incident to a phy-
sician’s service. A qualified audiologist shall be permitted 
to furnish such audiology services without regard to any 
requirement that the individual receiving such audiology 
services is under the care of (or referred by) a physician 
or other health care practitioner or that such services are 
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furnished under the supervision of a physician or other 
health care practitioner.’’. 
(c) PAYMENT AMOUNT AND COINSURANCE.—Section 
1833(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395l(a)(1)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ before (HH); and 
(2) by inserting the following before the semi-
colon: ‘‘and (II) with respect to audiology services 
furnished 
under 
section 
1861(s)(2)(KK), 
the 
amounts paid shall be 80 percent of the lesser of the 
actual charge for the services or the fee schedule 
amount provided under section 1848’’. 
(d) PAYMENT ON ASSIGNMENT-RELATED BASIS.— 
Section 1842(b)(18)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new clause: 
‘‘(ix) A qualified audiologist (as de-
fined in section 1861(ll)(4)(B)).’’. 
(e) INCLUSION
OF QUALIFIED AUDIOLOGISTS
AS 
RHC 
AND
FQHC 
PRACTITIONERS.—Section 
1861(aa)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x(aa)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting ‘‘by a qualified 
audiologist (as defined in subsection (ll)(4)(B)),’’ after 
‘‘(as defined in subsection (hh)(1)),’’. 
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(f) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in the 
amendments made by this section shall be construed to 
expand the scope of audiologist services or services for 
which payment may be made to other providers under title 
XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) 
beyond those services for which such payment may be 
made as of December 31, 2024. 
(g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to items and services furnished on 
or after January 1, 2025. 
Æ 
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