Subject: [Wash-at] FW: Northwest Lions Announces AUDIENT Hearing Alliance
From: Ginette Perkins (gperkins@wa.easterseals.com)
Date: Tue Jan 25 2005 - 09:38:45 PST
From: Sharon Kerpel [mailto:sharonk@audientalliance.org]
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 5:12 PM
To: ginettep@wa.easterseals.com
Subject: Northwest Lions Announces AUDIENT Hearing Alliance
For Immediate Release and Publication,
January 19, 2005
Contact info: Please call: 1-877-AUDIENT info@audientalliance.org
Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing.
Seattle, Washington
January 19, 2005
Announcement of formation of AUDIENT, an Alliance for Accessible Hearing
Care
The Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing (NLFSH) in Seattle,
Washington has announced that it has formed AUDIENT, an Alliance for
Accessible Hearing Care for low income populations who are challenged by the
current cost of hearing care.
Today in the United States approximately 28 million children and adults
alike, experience the isolating effects of hearing loss. And of that
number, 22 million do not use hearing aids. Many are financially challenged
and unable to pay for the hearing care their families need.
The hearing care professional who desires to serve this low income
population generally encounters barriers in providing much needed hearing
care services to persons who are income challenged because the costs of
administration are high, and recovery of those costs to serve the
appropriate people within their own communities is low.
The challenge of this problem is cited in the national U.S. Public Health
Services' Healthy People 2010 initiative, which sets hearing care goals for
the country. HP 2010 identifies significant disparities for low income
populations in accessing hearing care services. AUDIENT is offering hearing
health care professionals a process that begins to bridge this gap. Through
the collaborative efforts of hearing instrument and earmold manufacturers,
and licensed hearing health care providers, AUDIENT will bring hope to these
millions of children and adults who lack access to communication, the
essence of human existence.
The mission of the AUDIENT Alliance for Accessible Hearing Care in the U.S.
is to meet the needs of licensed hearing health care providers who want to
give access to high quality hearing health care to low income patients
around the United States who are income qualified. NLFSH also has a broad
global vision, with the intent of expanding the AUDIENT process into
developing countries, so that accessible, quality hearing health care can be
introduced to benefit individuals in need of hearing care around the world.
NLFSH is a not for profit 501 (C) 3, and all revenues from the AUDIENT
Alliance will be directed back into developing its charitable global
mission.
By introducing the AUDIENT Alliance in the U.S., NLFSH is encouraging the
accessibility of hearing care through a network of hearing health care
providers. NLFSH will manage the AUDIENT Alliance process as a third party
administrator, by performing the income qualification, collecting the funds
from the patient, managing the database of outcome measures from each
patient, and obtaining high quality digital hearing aids. Costs and pricing
are designed to be reasonable for both patients and providers of care.
Providers in the AUDIENT Alliance network will agree to provide
comprehensive hearing health care, including an audiological diagnostic
examination, treatment planning, and determination of clinical candidacy for
the digital BTE hearing aids, fitting and dispensing ear molds, providing
the hearing aid fitting service and two follow up aural rehabilitation
visits to patients. The first hearing aid to be provided through the
AUDIENT Alliance will be a fully digital state-of-the-art BTE hearing aid
from a major manufacturer, with NOAH-compatible advanced fitting software
and program features. The costs for products and services will be the same
for all patients, and all providers. The provider will be reimbursed a
maximum flat fee of $280 for monaural, and $350 for binaural fittings for
these services. The total cost to the patient for the hearing aids, ear
molds, shipping and handling, will be $319 for digital BTE devices with
volume control, and $345 for the upgraded power or directional microphone
version. Financing will be available at a small fee to the consumer.
The AUDIENT process, products and services are only available to low income
patients who qualify. "We don't intend to take any business away from
existing markets, but instead grow the market incrementally, in the areas of
most need," according to Mike Langhout, President of the Hearing Services
Division of NLFSH. "It is important to understand that the AUDIENT process
was founded, funded, and is managed by NLFSH to serve exclusively low income
qualified individuals," stated Langhout. NLFSH will require the patient to
verify his or her income. In the U.S., the income level needs are tied to
the federal poverty guidelines set by the government, which can be found at
(http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/04poverty.shtml). Income qualification for
participation in the AUDIENT process will be set at 250% of that federal
guideline. If the guideline changes, the income needed for qualification
will change. Today, for a family of one, the household income maximum would
calculate at $23,500 annually.
NLFSH has a successful history in social entrepreneurship. It has the
largest corneal tissue bank and distribution network in the world. "For
over 35 years, NLFSH has collaborated with health care professionals to meet
the needs of those with sight and hearing loss. We understand the
frustration of the thousands of hearing care professionals across the
country in trying to reach out to those who are income challenged within
their communities. We are committed to ensuring that the AUDIENT Alliance
is a professionally managed, scalable and effective vehicle to assist those
professionals in meeting the community need," stated Langhout
You may learn more about the AUDIENT process, an Alliance for Accessible
Hearing Care by requesting a brochure at info@audientalliance.org, or simply
log on to www.audientalliance.org. You may also call 1-877-AUDIENT,
(1-877-283-4368). You may access NLFSH at www.nlfoundation.org.
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