The proposed rule would allow adults to buy hearing aids without an exam or fitting, with the goal of driving more competitive pricing. Some companies expressed enthusiasm about over-the-counter hearing aids, while industry incumbents were more wary.
With hearing loss considered to be a social determinant of health, Medicare Advantage payers have taken a more comprehensive approach to hearing healthcare over the last five years. And in turn device makers have responded.
In an interview, Kyan Health Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer Konstantin Struck discussed how Kyan gives mid-market and enterprise employers access to premium workforce mental healthcare, at a price point that is affordable.
Once the FDA finalizes guidelines, the six global hearing aid companies will face a trajectory familiar to other sectors that have shifted to OTC in the past. They will likely confront dramatically lower prices but also the opportunity to develop the larger market