IHS in Washington: The Full Story on HR 3088 (LIVE)-IHS in Washington: The Full Story on HR 3088 Slides

IHS in Washington: The Full Story on HR 3088 Slides

Pdf Summary

The document outlines a presentation by Peter J. Mihalick, Esq., the Health Policy and Advocacy Director for IHS, regarding the legislative bill H.R. 3088. Introduced by Rep. Barrett (R-MI) on April 30th, the bill aims to enhance the role of Hearing Aid Specialists (HAS) in existing VA programs by adding explicit language into the current statutes. This bill seeks to modify the scope of practice without elevating HAS above other hearing health professions and aims to change how veterans use Community Care.<br /><br />The presentation distinguishes H.R. 3088 from the Fit2Serv initiative, which allowed HAS to be included in the Direct Care program at VA facilities, resulting in some hires. H.R. 3088 proposes broader engagement for HAS within VA Community Care, covering medical services as defined by the underlying statute with categories such as hospital, long-term, and medical services.<br /><br />Passage of this bill faces challenges due to the current political environment, as Rep. Barrett is a freshman member in a contested district. The bill proceeds through regular order including Committee markup and requires a 2/3 vote on the suspension calendar. It is related to broader legislative efforts such as the Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025.<br /><br />Advocacy activities are encouraged to support H.R. 3088, including contacting representatives, hosting visits, and sharing veteran care stories. Financial contributions are directed towards larger advocacy expenses but are not associated with political action committees (PAC). Additional information and continuing education credits for the webinar can be obtained from the IHS website.

Keywords

H.R. 3088

Peter J. Mihalick

Hearing Aid Specialists

VA Community Care

Veterans' ACCESS Act

legislative advocacy

Rep. Barrett

health policy

IHS

veteran care