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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3400 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3400
To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require
coverage of hearing devices and systems in certain private health
insurance plans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 9, 2025
Mr. Curtis (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Hickenlooper, and
Mr. Warnock) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require
coverage of hearing devices and systems in certain private health
insurance plans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as ``Ally's Act''.
SEC. 2. COVERAGE OF HEARING DEVICES AND SYSTEMS IN CERTAIN PRIVATE
HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS.
(a) PHSA.--Part D of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
300gg-111 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``SEC. 2799A-11. COVERAGE OF HEARING DEVICES AND SYSTEMS.
``(a) In General.--A group health plan and a health insurance
issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage shall at
a minimum provide coverage for the following items and services
furnished to a qualifying individual:
``(1) Auditory implant devices (including auditory
osseointegrated (bone conduction) implants and cochlear
implants) and external sound processors.
``(2) The maintenance of auditory implant devices and
external sound processors described in paragraph (1).
``(3) Every 5 years, the upgrade (or replacement if an
upgrade is not available) of auditory implant devices and
external sound processors described in paragraph (1).
``(4) Adhesive adapters and softband headbands.
``(5) The repair of auditory implant devices and external
sound processors described in paragraph (1).
``(6) A comprehensive hearing assessment.
``(7) A preoperative medical assessment.
``(8) Surgery relating to the furnishing of such devices
and processors (as determined necessary by a physician or
qualified audiologist (as such terms are defined in subsection
(d)) treating such individual).
``(9) Postoperative medical visits for purposes of ensuring
appropriate recovery from such surgery.
``(10) Postoperative audiological visits for activation and
fitting of such devices and processors.
``(11) Aural rehabilitation and treatment services (as so
determined necessary).
``(b) Coverage Requirements.--In the case of an item or service
described in subsection (a) furnished to a qualifying individual under
a group health plan or group or individual health insurance coverage,
such plan or coverage shall ensure that--
``(1) the financial requirements (as defined in section
2726(a)(3)) applicable to such item or service are no more
restrictive than the predominant financial requirements applied
to substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by
the plan or coverage (as applicable), and that there are no
separate cost sharing requirements that are applicable only
with respect to such item or service; and
``(2) the treatment limitations (as defined in such
section) applicable to such item or service are no more
restrictive than the predominant treatment limitations applied
to substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by
the plan or coverage (as applicable), and that there are no
separate treatment limitations that are applicable only with
respect to such item or service.
``(c) Prohibition on Review of Medical Necessity.--A group health
plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health
insurance coverage may not deny or otherwise limit coverage of any item
or service described in subsection (a) where such item or service has
been determined to be medically necessary by a physician or qualified
audiologist (as such terms are defined in subsection (d)).
``(d) Qualifying Individual Defined.--For purposes of this section,
the term `qualifying individual' means an individual that a physician
(as defined in section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act) or qualified
audiologist (as defined in section 1861(ll)(4)(B) of such Act)
determines meets an indication (including unilateral or bilateral
hearing loss) for an auditory implant device and external sound
processor described in subsection (a)(1).''.
(b) ERISA.--
(1) In general.--Subpart B of part 7 of subtitle B of title
I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29
U.S.C. 1185 et seq.) by adding at the end the following new
section:
``SEC. 726. COVERAGE OF HEARING DEVICES AND SYSTEMS.
``(a) In General.--A group health plan and a health insurance
issuer offering group health insurance coverage shall at a minimum
provide coverage for the following items and services furnished to a
qualifying individual:
``(1) Auditory implant devices (including auditory
osseointegrated (bone conduction) implants and cochlear
implants) and external sound processors.
``(2) The maintenance of auditory implant devices and
external sound processors described in paragraph (1).
``(3) Every 5 years, the upgrade (or replacement if an
upgrade is not available) of auditory implant devices and
external sound processors described in paragraph (1).
``(4) Adhesive adapters and softband headbands.
``(5) The repair of auditory implant devices and external
sound processors described in paragraph (1).
``(6) A comprehensive hearing assessment.
``(7) A preoperative medical assessment.
``(8) Surgery relating to the furnishing of such devices
and processors (as determined necessary by a physician or
qualified audiologist (as such terms are defined in subsection
(d)) treating such individual).
``(9) Postoperative medical visits for purposes of ensuring
appropriate recovery from such surgery.
``(10) Postoperative audiological visits for activation and
fitting of such devices and processors.
``(11) Aural rehabilitation and treatment services (as so
determined necessary).
``(b) Coverage Requirements.--In the case of an item or service
described in subsection (a) furnished to a qualifying individual under
a group health plan or group health insurance coverage, such plan or
coverage shall ensure that--
``(1) the financial requirements (as defined in section
712(a)(3)) applicable to such item or service are no more
restrictive than the predominant financial requirements applied
to substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by
the plan or coverage (as applicable), and that there are no
separate cost sharing requirements that are applicable only
with respect to such item or service; and
``(2) the treatment limitations (as defined in such
section) applicable to such item or service are no more
restrictive than the predominant treatment limitations applied
to substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by
the plan or coverage (as applicable), and that there are no
separate treatment limitations that are applicable only with
respect to such item or service.
``(c) Prohibition on Review of Medical Necessity.--A group health
plan and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance
coverage may not deny or otherwise limit coverage of any item or
service described in subsection (a) where such item or service has been
determined to be medically necessary by a physician or qualified
audiologist (as such terms are defined in subsection (d)).
``(d) Qualifying Individual Defined.--For purposes of this section,
the term `qualifying individual' means an individual that a physician
(as defined in section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395x(r))) or qualified audiologist (as defined in section
1861(ll)(4)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ll)(4)(B))) determines
meets an indication (including unilateral or bilateral hearing loss)
for an auditory implant device and external sound processor described
in subsection (a)(1).''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents in section 1
of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29
U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 725 the following new item:
``Sec. 726. Coverage of hearing devices and systems.''.
(c) IRC.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter B of chapter 100 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end
the following new section:
``SEC. 9826. COVERAGE OF HEARING DEVICES AND SYSTEMS.
``(a) In General.--A group health plan shall at a minimum provide
coverage for the following items and services furnished to a qualifying
individual:
``(1) Auditory implant devices (including auditory
osseointegrated (bone conduction) implants and cochlear
implants) and external sound processors.
``(2) The maintenance of auditory implant devices and
external sound processors described in paragraph (1).
``(3) Every 5 years, the upgrade (or replacement if an
upgrade is not available) of auditory implant devices and
external sound processors described in paragraph (1).
``(4) Adhesive adapters and softband headbands.
``(5) The repair of auditory implant devices and external
sound processors described in paragraph (1).
``(6) A comprehensive hearing assessment.
``(7) A preoperative medical assessment.
``(8) Surgery relating to the furnishing of such devices
and processors (as determined necessary by a physician or
qualified audiologist (as such terms are defined in subsection
(d)) treating such individual).
``(9) Postoperative medical visits for purposes of ensuring
appropriate recovery from such surgery.
``(10) Postoperative audiological visits for activation and
fitting of such devices and processors.
``(11) Aural rehabilitation and treatment services (as so
determined necessary).
``(b) Coverage Requirements.--In the case of an item or service
described in subsection (a) furnished to a qualifying individual under
a group health plan, such plan shall ensure that--
``(1) the financial requirements (as defined in section
9812(a)(3)) applicable to such item or service are no more
restrictive than the predominant financial requirements applied
to substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by
the plan, and that there are no separate cost sharing
requirements that are applicable only with respect to such item
or service; and
``(2) the treatment limitations (as defined in such
section) applicable to such item or service are no more
restrictive than the predominant treatment limitations applied
to substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by
the plan, and that there are no separate treatment limitations
that are applicable only with respect to such item or service.
``(c) Prohibition on Review of Medical Necessity.--A group health
plan may not deny or otherwise limit coverage of any item or service
described in subsection (a) where such item or service has been
determined to be medically necessary by a physician or qualified
audiologist (as such terms are defined in subsection (d)).
``(d) Qualifying Individual Defined.--For purposes of this section,
the term `qualifying individual' means an individual that a physician
(as defined in section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395x(r))) or qualified audiologist (as defined in section
1861(ll)(4)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ll)(4)(B))) determines
meets an indication (including unilateral or bilateral hearing loss)
for an auditory implant device and external sound processor described
in subsection (a)(1).''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for
subchapter B of chapter 100 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
9825 the following new item:
``Sec. 9286. Coverage of hearing devices and systems.''.
(d) Application to Grandfathered Health Plans.--Section
1251(a)(4)(A) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42
U.S.C. 18011(a)(4)(A)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``title'' and inserting ``title, or as
added after the date of the enactment of this Act''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(v) Section 2799A-11 (relating to hearing
devices and systems).''.
(e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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