-- Virtual Hearing Solutions (VHS) announced the launch of its new program to bring better hearing health into nursing homes. A pilot program was recently launched in over 40 nursing homes in California. This is a revolutionary change in how nursing home residents receive access to proper hearing health and positions the company as a leader in helping solve a massive health crisis in the United States.
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), nearly half of Americans over age 75 have hearing loss. The National Center Of Health Statistics classifies hearing loss as the third most common chronic health condition for adult Americans. Unfortunately, only 20% of individuals who would benefit from treatment actually seek help. And in nursing homes, the problem is even worse.
Typically, nursing home residents are visited infrequently by audiologist and often pay over $4,000 for a single hearing aid. Poor hearing can lead to unnecessary injuries through preventable falls, isolation from others, depression, dementia, low activity levels, and other chronic conditions. Not having the ability to communicate properly with family members, social workers, and health care professionals leads to an overall poor quality of life. All of this could be eliminated or at least reduced through proper hearing health.
VHS’ new program is changing all of this. According to company CEO Tyrone Moore, “We’re bringing qualified medical professionals along with FDA-listed, portable audiometers directly to nursing home residents. And we’re doing it when they need it, not just when it’s convenient like it is in most facilities.This is having a profound impact on their lives as these residents are finally able to hear and communicate properly with their loved ones and the support staff entrusted with their well-being.”
VHS is also helping make hearing health and hearing aids more affordable. Medicare does not cover hearing exams or hearing aids. VHS processes claims with Medicare Advantage and private insurance plans on behalf of its customers to relieve them or their family from the burden. And for any out-of-pocket costs, VHS offers significant discounts to retail pricing and a financing program.
The company is expanding its presence in nursing homes beginning in 2020. There is no cost to nursing homes to join. In fact, most nursing homes will actually save money via VHS’ free replacement program for lost hearing aids which otherwise must be paid for by the facility. Nursing homes also benefit from faster and more accurate hearing health reporting of their required Minimum Data Set (MDS).
Virtual Hearing Solutions was established in 2017 when the OTC Hearing Aid Act was signed into law. It’s mission is to bring good hearing health directly to the people who need it wherever they might be – nursing homes, pharmacies, employers, and more.
To find out more, the place to visit is https://virtualhearingsolutions.com/
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