Advocacy News

NIHB Update March 2012 - Clarification of Information Required

As CAA previously informed its members, as of January 1, 2012, audiologists are now recognized as prescribers for hearing aids by Non-Insured Health Benefits First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada (NIHB). CAA is issuing this notice to help clarify the procedural ramifications of this change. The following instructions have been issued by NIHB.

The NIHB Hearing Aid and Hearing Aid Repair Prior Approval Form and the Medical Supplies and Equipment Claim Form both request information for the prescriber ID field (License/Billing #). Registered audiologists should enter their college registration number in the province where they practice. For the provinces/territories with no college or regulatory body, audiologists should use their membership number with CASLPA or CAA.

Updated VAC Benefit Grids Effective June 20, 2011

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is pleased to advise you that effective June 1, 2011, Clinical Audiologists and Hearing Instrument Practitioners are able to prescribe for Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (Benefit Code 600446) for Veteran clients, under Program of Choice (POC) 03 - Audio Program.

NDP WORKING TO PROVIDE EQUALITY FOR HARD OF HEARING

NDP introduces a private members' bill that would establish equality for hard of hearing and deafened Canadians. With the disability tax credit, currently many hard of hearing and deafened Canadians are not able to access tax credits because the tax credit regulations basically force the person to be in an ideal situation in order not to hear.

Update from CAA and CASLPA regarding battery clubs and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC)

VAC (Medavie Blue Cross) has been and continues to conduct battery pricing audits on some audiology clinics who service VAC clients and significant recovery of funds has already taken place. As of the first of March 2011 there was $1.2M of $1.9M recovered from providers with recovery plans in place for the remaining amounts. At issue are the battery clubs that are offered by some clinics. In the letters that have been sent to our audiology members, VAC stated that "Not offering the battery club to your Veteran clients is in essence the same as charging Veterans more than non-Veterans". There is one exception and that is in the province of Quebec. As there is a $50 charge in that province for membership in the battery club and we have no account to pay that fee from, we will have to "pass" on their memberships. Because we have chosen to "pass" any audits carried out in that province will have as the base price the usual and customary cost not the battery club cost.