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State Delegate Kathy Tran (D), Virginia House District 018, has proposed an amendment to provide funding for the fiscal impact of House Bill 982.  This Bill directs the Board of Medical Assistance Services to amend the state plan to include a provision for payment of medical assistance for all medically necessary (i) adult hearing screenings, (ii) audiological examinations; (iii) initial purchases or replacements of hearing aids up to $1,500 per year, and (iv) hearing aid batteries, up to 60 batteries per year.

To show your support for this amendment, please contact your legislator at the Virginia General Assembly and be sure to refer to "Item 288 #62, Del. Tran, HB Medicaid Coverage for Adult Hearing Screenings, Exams and Hearing Aids."

Not sure who your legislator is?  Visit Virginia House of Delegates Membership.

On July 25, 2023, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), author of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), and Representative Anna G. Eshoo (CA-16) announced the reintroduction of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act.

This bill would update and strengthen existing accessibility regulations guaranteed through Senator Markey’s CVAA to stay up-to-date with the boom of new technologies—from video conferencing platforms to artificial intelligence—which have become commonplace since the CVAA became law in 2010.

Specifically, the CVTA would:

  1. Improve and expand closed captioning and audio description standards for television programming and online video streaming platforms to ensure people with disabilities have equitable access to the wide range of programming available to the general public;
  2. Update current requirements to ensure viewers can easily activate and select preferred settings for closed captions and audio description on their video programming devices, such as televisions, smart phones, laptops, and tablets;
  3. Improve access to video conferencing platforms for people with disabilities;
  4. Ensure people with disabilities have equitable access to 9-1-1 emergency services; and,
  5. Empower the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure accessibility regulations keep pace with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and augmented or virtual reality platforms.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO PASS THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION!
Contact your federal representatives and ask them to support the CVTA in Congress!

Click here to find your Congressmembers

The CVTA is endorsed by AccesSOS, Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell), American Council of the Blind, Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs, American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), Blinded Veterans Association, Carroll Center for the Blind, Center for Advanced Communications Policy, CommunicationFIRST, Communication Service for the Deaf, Deaf in Government, Hearing Loss Association of America, Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, National Federation of the Blind, National Association of the Deaf, National Association of State Agencies of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NASADHH), Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Inc., Perkins School For The Blind, United Spinal Association, and Voiceitt.

Click here to read the CVTA Press Release

Click here to read a copy of the CTVA bill