As Chairman of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, I am available to address any questions the Committee may have related to HB 904, 906 and/or HB 1038.

As Chairman of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, I am available to address any questions the Committee may have related to HB 904, 906 and/or HB 1038.

I SUPPORT SB1003. As an Audiologist, I have had multiple families struggle with financial cost of hearing instruments for their child/ children. Financial struggles can delay care for these children affecting their speech/language and social development. Thank you for your support of this bill and our children.

All students deserve access to medical supports that allow them to maximize their learning potential. A child with reduced hearing requires hearing aids to fully access their free and appropriate public education. Thank you for supporting and protecting the educational rights of our students.

I support this bill.

Please approve this bill.

I support this bill for Clay and all children like him.

I support this bill.

The Speech-Language-Hearing Association supports SB 1003. A previous version of this bill, SB 423, passed in all Senate committees and the floor uncontested. Because SB 423 had a fiscal impact and would have required updates to health insurance coverage terms for state employees (to include the coverage of pediatric hearing aids), the bill remained inactive after its passage. SB 1003 would ensure its activation and cover pediatric hearing aids in the amount of $1,500 per ear, among other medically necessary services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Hearing sounds and words helps children learn to talk and understand. A child with hearing loss misses out on these sounds, potentially causing problems with speaking, reading, school success, and social skills (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association [ASHA], 2023). If appropriate early intervention does not occur within the first 6-12 months, hearing loss or deafness, even if mild, can negatively impact the development of spoken communication with hearing family and peers (National Research Council, 2005). Without help, children with mild to moderate hearing loss may fall one to four grade levels behind, and children with more severe hearing loss may not learn past the third- or fourth-grade level (ASHA, 2023). Support our children's health, learning, and community involvement by voting in favor of SB 1003.

Our kids need support for essential things that help them achieve greater! Please support this bill for our kids to get what they need in order to succeed!!

I support this bill! Please keep trying to get it passed!

I support the bill.

I support this bill.

I am in support of this bill as every child should have access to the technology they need to hear and develop speech and language. As a pediatric audiologist, I for kids from birth to 21 with hearing aids and I have seen families make difficult financial choices to pay for their child’s hearing aids. One family had to sell a car to afford hearing aids. I work to find funds to help pay for hearing aids for these families, but those funds often run out. This bill is critical for families with children with hearing loss. Please vote in support of these children !

Please support SB 1003.

Let’s set our children up for success by ensuring all children are given the tools they need to hear!

I support this bill!

I support this bill.

Hearing aids are much needed

This is critical for proper health care coverage.

I am in favor of the bill.

Children deserve access to medical devices that would improve their quality of life and allow them to hear the world around them. Our children deserve this. Please pass this bill!

How is this not already a thing!? I support bill SB1003 and Clay fully.

I support this bill.

I support this bill to provide hearing aids to those minors in need who may be financially unable to do so. All children should have all the resources they need to be successful.

Please pass Clay’s bill!! All children should have hearing aids covered by insurance!

I am a pediatric audiologist in favor of this bill.

I support this bill!

I am in favor of this bill.

In favor of this bill!

I’ve worked as a pediatric occupational therapist for over 5 years and with many children with hearing loss. This is SO important to support. The amount of progress and joy I’ve seen in kiddos that get hearing aids is astounding. If it was your child, wouldn’t you want the option?

How is this already not a standard?! Hearing impacts all childhood development & children/families deserve support from health insurance companies they invest in. Thank you!

Vote to accept n pass the bill

Children deserve better! I am in favor of this bill!

This should absolutely occur! The fact that they already aren’t included is absolute insanity. Children deserve any opportunity to be provided the medical devices they need, including hearing aids. There should be no reason why the private sector should privatize, capitalize, and hold hostage necessary medical devices for children, whom are often unable to speak for themselves in our government. Hearing is so impactful upon development and quality of life and it would be absolutely shameful to disregard this request. Americans pay an astronomical amount of money for insurance, as do our tax dollars for medical coverage programs, and I would be so very disappointed to know insurance dollars could and would fund the most preposterous items and prescriptions, such as ED medication, but not consider the quality of life provided to our children with serious medical dilemmas. Do what’s right.

My name is Dianne McKee (AKAGrandma) and I am the Grandmother of Clayton Dupilka. I am writing to gain support for SB 1003 Health Insurance; mandated coverage for hearing aids for minors. This bill has passed unanimously the Commerce and Labor and Finance committee and the Senate. SB1003 has bipartisan support in the House and Senate. The bill will allow most of Virginia’s children to obtain the necessary equipment for development and to allow them to thrive in school. Below are key metrics supporting SB1003: Hearing aids along with molds can cost families over $3,000 every 3-5 years. Medicaid covers hearing aids although most family fall just above the cutoff placing great financial strain on families. Providing coverage could save educational systems over 40k per child who does not have the necessary equipment. Delays in hearing increases the risk of depression, lower social skills, emotional/behavior difficulties, and language delays. Research shows if hearing loss goes untreated children are at risk of unemployment or loss in

Pass this bill

I am in favor of SB 1003

As a Virginia resident and healthcare provider I fully support this bill to help all children hear.

I SUPPORT SB 1003. Hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop speech, language, and social skills. Without appropriate language skills, the ability to obtain reading and writing skills and attend school is severely restricted. Many parents cannot afford to pay the full cost of hearing aids for their children, so it is vital that their insurance help them. The CDC has estimated that the lifetime cost to the public for a child with hearing loss is over $400,000, mostly due to special education services. The child may also grow up to be an adult who needs rehabilitative and vocational support in order to be a productive citizen. More than half of US states have realized that it is much more cost-effective to invest in these children now, than to have to provide for them later. Virginia already screens children for hearing loss at birth, the next logical step is to provide hearing aids for the relatively small number of children with permanent hearing loss. Thank you for supporting SB 1003

Comments Document

My name is Aleks Casper and I am the Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Virginia. We are happy to support Senator Edwards bill, SB 1011 which would eliminate the tobacco surcharge in Virginia. The American Lung Association is committed to making it as easy as possible for smokers to get evidence-based assistance to help them quit and end their addiction to nicotine. Data shows seven in ten smokers want to quit but only one in ten quit successfully in a year. This bill makes it easier for smokers to access quality and affordable healthcare, including treatments to quit smoking. I am attached comments supporting this bill, as well as a one-page fact sheet which outlines why tobacco surcharges are ineffective. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments, and we encourage you to vote YES when the bill comes before you in committee. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please let me know. Thank you for your continued support! Aleks

As Chairman of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, I am available to address any questions the Committee may have related to HB 904, 906 and/or HB 1038.

I support SB1321, not SB1265.

SB 1265, which increases the guaranteed profit margin of electric utilities, and SB 1321, which allows the SCC to lower electricity rates whenever it determines that projected revenues of Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power will result in overcharging Virginians, are docketed to come before you. Please consider the best interest of all Virginians when determining your actions. Support the individual citizens of the Commonwealth who voted you into office, not the campaign donors who paid to get you there. Table, pass by, or leave in committee SB 1265. Send SB 1321 to the House floor for a vote.

I support SB1321. The State Corporation Commission is the agency created to provide oversight and it should be allowed to do the job. This bill is straightforward and clear and puts the responsibility where it belongs. Please report out SB1321. Today and yesterday I saw full page ads in the Virginian Pilot by my electric utility advocating for other legislation, thus paid for in some measure by me, but not in my interest. I am infuriated by this utility getting away with overcharging its captive customers and then using its excess profits to influence its own regulation.

SB 1265, which increases the guaranteed profit margin of electric utilities, and SB 1321, which allows the SCC to lower electricity rates whenever it determines that projected revenues of Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power will result in overcharging Virginians, are docketed to come before you. Please consider the best interest of all Virginians when determining your actions. Support the individual citizens of the Commonwealth who voted you into office, not the campaign donors who paid to get you there. Table, pass by, or leave in committee SB 1265. Send SB 1321 to the House floor for a vote.