2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
3/05/2019 | 9:40 AM - 10:05 AM | 13 “Lucky” Ways to Bring Pediatric Hearing Aid Legislation to Your State: Lessons from Idaho’s Progressive - Parent Driven Legislative Success | Narita A/B
13 “Lucky” Ways to Bring Pediatric Hearing Aid Legislation to Your State: Lessons from Idaho’s Progressive - Parent Driven Legislative Success
Pediatric hearing aid legislation can be a reality for every state in the nation. Twenty-two states have successfully adopted mandates driven in large part by parent-based organizations. Idaho’s recent efforts, led by Idaho Hands & Voices, produced one of the most progressive pieces of pediatric hearing aid legislation in the nation.
Idaho’s rule change is very distinctive as it allows for all types of hearing devices to be covered and includes children born with, or acquiring losses ages 0-26. The devices can also be replaced every three years and there is no monetary cap for the medically necessary devices. The rule also allows for 45 additional sessions of speech therapy after a device fit. This legislation will be a great benefit to families who currently pay for all devices and additional speech therapy at their own expense. This type of insurance coverage is entirely possible for other states in the nation.
What factors contributed to Idaho’s success? Idaho Hands & Voices’ parents and professionals applied thirteen principles that can bring similar policies to other states regardless of size, political leanings and insurance rules and regulations. Together, parents secured bipartisan bill co-sponsors, testified at hearings, obtained news & media coverage, produced fliers, accessed information from other states, gave professional input on technical details of rule language, and garnered widespread legislative and community support.
If the “Lucky 13” principles and preparations are utilized, the likelihood of bringing substantive hearing aid legislation to states will greatly increase. An interactive presentation highlighting the principles of success and lessons learned will be given. Presenters will provide pertinent, take home, working items for states pursuing pediatric hearing aid legislation.
- Participants will be able to list 8 concepts that enhance hearing aid legislative success.
- Participants can identify 4 goal items to include in pediatric hearing aid legislation
- Participants will be able to explain 3 political insights that assist in legislative advocacy.
Presentation:
18878_10495CorinneColeman.pdf
18878_10495LesaColeman.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
18878_10495LesaColeman.docx
Presenters/Authors
Lesa Coleman
(), Idaho Hands & Voices, lesacoleman@gmail.com;
Lesa Coleman, MS, has provided parent support and advocacy for families with children with hearing loss for nearly 20 years. Lesa, and husband Lance have six children including two daughters, Corinne and Emily, who have bilateral moderate-severe hearing losses. Lesa participated in early intervention services with the girls for 5 years in downtown Chicago, IL, where Lance completed an ENT medical residency. Legislatively, Lesa, Corinne and Emily, testified on Capitol Hill in support of Newborn Hearing Screening. During the 2018 legislative session, Lesa worked with the Idaho Hands & Voices team to obtain pediatric hearing aid insurance coverage. Lesa is a founding director of Idaho hands & Voices and currently serves as the Guide By Your Side Coordinator. Lesa is an Idaho native. She enjoys cheering youngest daughters’ high-school events and loves reading great children’s literature with granddaughter, Charlotte.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Andrea Amestoy
(), Idaho Hands and Voices, andrea_corn@yahoo.com;
Andrea Amestoy, R.N., has been a pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit nurse and teaches classes at St. Luke’s.
She has worked for the past 12 years at Idaho Sound Beginnings as a parent outreach consultant in which she markets and promotes Idaho Sound Beginnings, gives presentations and contacts parents for follow up.
In addtion, Andrea works for Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and Blind with children 0-3 who are blind or visually impaired. She earned her Health Science and Nursing Degrees from Boise State University and is a certified teacher of the blind and visually impaired with a Master's in Special Education from Texas Tech University. She recently completed her orientation and mobility certificate from Texas Tech University in August of 2019.
She is the mother of three kids, two of whom have Usher's Syndrome.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
Corinne Coleman
(), Utah State University, corinnekcoleman@gmail.com;
Corinne grew up in Boise, ID, and completed her undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders from BYU. She is currently a second year Audiology student at Utah State University. Having hearing loss herself, she is passionate about early intervention, interdisciplinary care, and supporting children and families like her own. Corinne enjoys sunshine, water, sports, and making sugar cookies with her family.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -