# 119-s-1996: Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2025

119-s-1996, Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-25).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1996
- As of: 2026-07-25
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1996
- Congress: 119
- Title: Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-06-09
- Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA)
- Cosponsors: 11
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-25

## Summary

**Medicare coverage for audiology services** would be expanded so beneficiaries can get hearing and balance care without needing a physician referral. The bill also sets a specific payment rule and lets qualified audiologists be paid directly by Medicare.

## Cosponsors (11)

- Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY] (R-KY), 2025-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (R-IA), 2025-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2025-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2025-10-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-11-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK), 2026-06-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Medicare audiology coverage and costs: mixed, medium. This bill would add "audiology services" to Medicare starting January 1, 2027. Audiology services would include hearing and balance tests and, beginning January 1, 2027, treatment when provided by a qualified audiologist. Qualified audiologists could furnish these services without a physician refer…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.
- 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan.
- 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California.

## Sources
- [119-s-1996 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1996)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755)
- [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1996 (as of 2026-07-25).