STATEHOUSE (Feb. 4, 2025) – The Indiana House approved State Rep. Lori Goss-Reaves' (R-Marion) legislation to expand telehealth services and access to over-the-counter hearing aids.
"This bill would help many Hoosiers by expanding telehealth services and ensuring greater access to affordable hearing aids," Goss-Reaves said. "By making these updates, we’re improving health care treatment options and reducing costs for commonly used products that can make a meaningful difference in someone's life."
House Bill 1572 would add speech-language pathology assistants to the definition of "practitioner" for telehealth services, increasing access to care for Hoosiers. Goss-Reaves said more than 200 providers would have been eligible to provide telehealth services if they were originally intended to be included in the original telehealth law. The bill would also allow the sale and distribution of OTC hearing aids without requiring them to be sold by a licensed audiologist or hearing aid dealer. While prescription hearing aids can range in cost from $1,000 to $4,000, OTC hearing aids can start as low as $200.
House Bill 1572 passed the House with bipartisan support and now moves to the Senate for consideration. To learn more and watch session and committee meetings, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Lori Goss-Reaves (R-Marion) represents House District 31,
which includes portions of Grant and Madison counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
PHOTO CAPTION: State Rep. Lori Goss-Reaves (R-Marion) presents her legislation to expand telehealth and access to over-the-counter hearing aids on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in the House Chamber at the Statehouse. House Bill 1572 would add speech-language pathology assistants to the definition of "practitioner" for telehealth services and allow the sale and distribution of OTC hearing aids without requiring them to be sold by a licensed audiologist or hearing aid dealer.
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