Over-the-counter hearing aids now available in Ohio following federal change
Throughout Ohio and the United States, hearing aids can be bought and sold without a prescription as of Monday.
In August, the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that it would allow hearing aids to be purchased over-the-counter as of Oct. 17. The decision followed months of debate and a 2021 executive order by President Joe Biden urging the FDA and HHS to allow the sale of hearing aids without a prescription.
"It's something that's been in the works for a while," said Dr. Oliver Adunka, an otolaryngologist at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center. "It's taken a few, well-coordinated ninja moves to get hearing aids until now."
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The move aims to broaden access to hearing aids, and the Biden administration anticipates it could save some Americans thousands of dollars, according to a White House statement from August.
Here's what you need to know about the change to hearing aids:
Where can you buy over-the-counter hearing aids?
Hearing aids will be available for purchase at pharmacies across Ohio, as well as some retail stores.
Best Buy announced that it plans to participate in the program and make hearing aids available to customers.
On Monday, Walmart announced that it will begin offering over-the-counter hearing aids on Walmart.com and in Walmart Vision Centers in Ohio. The retailer plans to sell them in the coming weeks and months at additional Walmart Vision Centers nationwide, according to a news release.
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In an email, Walgreens told USA TODAY it plans to participate as well and "will offer over-the-counter hearing aids later this year nationwide, both in-store and online."
CVS also plans to offer the aids at its pharmacies and online " in the near future," the company said in an email.
How much will the hearing aids cost?
It's not yet known how much the over-the-counter devices will cost. Prices will likely vary.
One reason behind the change was that hearing aids are already expensive and the doctors' appointments previously required to get a prescription for one are yet another high cost for the millions of Americans in need of them, according to a White House statement.
The Biden administration estimated consumers could save nearly $3,000 for a pair of hearing aids, which can currently cost up to $5,000.
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Hearing aids have long cost too much, Adunka said. But the doctor said he's skeptical that selling them over the counter will significantly cut down on the cost for the most financially in-need patients.
"What a lot of folks think is that it's going to be dramatically less expensive," Adunka said. "You'll certainty knock a few thousand dollars off the price, but it's not going to be a $100 item you pull off the shelf at Walmart."
Do you need health insurance to get an over-the-counter hearing aid?
The short answer is no.
Over-the-counter medical products don't require a prescription or medical examination and are available to all through retail purchase.
"Despite the high prevalence and public health impact of hearing loss, only about one-fifth of people who could benefit from a hearing aid seek intervention," according to the FDA.
The agency adopted the new rule in part because the fitting and purchase of hearing aids is not always covered by insurance, making the cost a burden for many individuals.
What kinds of hearing aids are available over-the-counter?
The change by the FDA and HHS applies to air-conduction hearing aids, worn behind or inside the ear.
The devices also must have user-adjusted volume controls and a lower maximum sound output. The federal change also limits how deep the device can be placed in the ear canal.
While over-the-counter hearing aids will increase accessibility for people with minor hearing loss, Adunka said Ohioans with severe loss will still need a prescription for higher-functioning hearing aids.
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Ohioans who think they may need a hearing aid should still consider seeing a doctor first, Adunka said. It's important for people get a hearing test and to have help setting up a hearing aid if they need one, he said.
"We still want folks to have a proper hearing test," Adunka. "What we're a little nervous about is folks getting these and you having this thing in your ear canal blocking other sound from getting in ... the worst-case scenario is you have an ear plug."
mfilby@dispatch.com
@MaxFilby
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohioans can get over-the-counter hearing aids due to federal change
