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Bill would require insurance coverage for hearing aids; supporters cite dementia link and advocates target fiscal note
Summary
House Bill 607 would add insurance coverage for hearing aids by state-regulated plans and the state plan; proponents including AARP, audiologists and disability advocates urged passage citing links between untreated hearing loss and dementia, while state fiscal witnesses and the sponsor discussed cost estimates and implementation.
Representative Paul Tuss opened the hearing on House Bill 607, saying the bill requires insurance coverage for hearing loss aids and modernizes statutory references.
Advocates and clinicians testified in support. Brad Griffin, a private citizen, said untreated hearing loss has “serious health consequences” and flagged the high cost of devices — he cited an average pair cost as a barrier. Fran Vareck, an AARP volunteer who testified as a private citizen, told the committee that a relative's untreated hearing loss contributed to dementia and urged the committee to act. Audiologists and the Montana Speech Hearing Association supported the bill and challenged a Department of Administration fiscal estimate, saying federal changes have already reduced device costs.
Witnesses from the state provided fiscal and operational context. Amy Jenks of the Department of Administration explained the fiscal note assumptions for the state employee benefits plan. Frank Cote of the state auditor's office answered questions about the auditor office's portion of the fiscal note. Committee members probed the fiscal math and per‑member cost estimates; a sponsor's rebuttal suggested a lower per‑device cost and different amortization assumptions, producing a substantially lower estimated state cost.
Public advocates said covering hearing aids would reduce social isolation and downstream costs linked to cognitive decline. AARP cited a John Hopkins study associating hearing‑aid use with a lower prevalence of dementia among those with moderate to severe hearing loss.
Department and auditor staff noted existing coverage in some programs (e.g., CHIP for children) and the committee discussed how many state plan members might enroll; state staff estimated roughly 30,000 lives on the state plan and suggested a per-member impact would be modest. The hearing record closed with the sponsor emphasizing quality‑of‑life and urging committee support.
