Hearing aids are now available without a prescription at stores and online nationwide.
The announcement was revealed on Monday in a “Fact Sheet” from the White House regarding the approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Specifically, today, under a final rule issued by the FDA, adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss can buy hearing aids at a store or online without a prescription, exam, or audiologist fitting,” the fact sheet said.
Starting this week, we’re making hearing aids available over the counter, so people don’t have to pay for expensive visits to specialists.
The FDA estimates this is going to save patients as much as $3,000 per pair.
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 17, 2022
“FDA estimates this could lower average costs by as much as $3,000 per pair—providing significant breathing room for the nearly 30 million Americans with hearing loss, including nearly 10 million adults under age 60,” it added.
In addition to online options, the White House noted several U.S. retailers that will now or soon be making over-the-counter hearing aids available. The list includes Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, and Hy-Vee.
Prices will vary from as low as $199 per pair (Walmart/Sam’s Club) or $200 at Best Buy. The new hearing aid options are being sold at prices much lower than similar devices previously only available by prescription, sometimes by thousands of dollars, according to the FDA.
“This final rule will generate potential benefits in the form of cost savings for consumers with perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment who wish to buy lower cost hearing aids not bundled with professional services and not requiring professional advice, fitting, adjustment, or maintenance but who are currently unable to buy such products online because of state regulations or because they do not shop online,” the FDA’s report stated.
The new action is part of President Joe Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. Signed in July 2021, the order claimed to promote competition in the American economy, lowering prices for families and increasing wages for workers.
The Hearing Industries Association offered its support for the effort in an August press release, though it cautioned about the ongoing need for consulting with licensed professionals.
“This is a significant step forward for the millions of Americans who suffer hearing loss yet are untreated,” said Kate Carr, President of HIA. “Hearing loss is unique to each person, and most do not know if their condition is mild, moderate, or greater, caused by another medical issue or something as simple as ear wax. HIA supports the final rule and recommends that the best treatment for hearing loss involves seeing a hearing professional.”
While many hard-of-hearing Americans will welcome the new change, the executive order is not having the impact on inflation that the Biden administration has claimed.
As The Daily Wire previously reported, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 8.2% between September 2021 and September 2022, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The level surpassed expectations in a dreadful report for Democrats just weeks ahead of the nation’s midterm elections.
