Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act of 2026

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to begin, within one year, a two-year demonstration project testing coverage of FDA-cleared over-the-counter hearing aids in the same or similar way it covers prescription hearing aids. Enrolled veterans could take part if an audiologist finds an over-the-counter aid medically necessary for mild-to-moderate hearing loss and the veteran has a mobile phone and data or Wi-Fi. The project would run at two or more VA medical facilities and compare over-the-counter aids with audiologist-fitted prescription aids, including costs to the VA. The VA would report to Congress during and after the project, and the Government Accountability Office would study veterans' hearing aid benefits and report within 18 months.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Keith Self Republican sponsor
• 2 cosponsors