Starkey in the News  |  April 2008

Better Hearing Institute Unveils Hearing Aid Tax Credit Website

With the unveiling of www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) in collaboration with the Hearing Industries Association (HIA) makes it easy for all Americans to send letters to their Senators and Representatives in support of tax credit legislation (HR2329/S1410). The goal - millions of letters to the Hill in support of this legislation.

BHI and HIA want to bring this issue to the attention of every Senator and Representative on the Hill. Letters from all hearing industry stakeholders, their customers, their patients and their readers will bring attention to this important cause. When someone visits www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org, a push of a button enables them to send letters to your respective Senators and Representative.

How Can You Help?

Following are suggestions from BHI and HIA:

  • Inform all hearing aid users. For all hearing aid fittings provide a small message on the availability of this website to the patient. Here is a sample card to promote the website.
  • Place the above message in ALDs such as TV Ears or amplified telephones.
  • Place the following message on your website: Help pass hearing aid tax credit legislation now - www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org.
  • Promote the site on your business card.
  • Send your own eBlast.
  • Develop a post card campaign. BHI has provided a suggested postcard design.
  • Place an OpEd piece in your local newspaper. BHI have written a suggested OpEd piece for placement in your local newspaper.
  • Promote the website in your community at physician offices, chiropractor offices, drug stores, food store bulletin boards, senior centers, assistive living and retirement communities, places of worship (newsletters, bulletin boards), day care centers, schools, places where boomers and seniors meet (golf courses, tennis clubs, bowling alley, etc); and of course talk about the website in your newsletter if you have one.
  • Start a chain eMail. Most of us share jokes or cool Youtube videos with our entire network of friends and family. So why not share this initiative with your network especially those outside of the hearing health community? Hearing loss affects 1 in 4 households in America; so just about everyone knows somebody with an untreated hearing loss. Here is a suggested email: Hearing loss affects 1 in 4 households in America. Congress is considering a proposal to provide Americans with a tax credit for hearing aid treatment. They need to hear that you support this idea now! While passage of the tax credit bill may not impact you it could help a friend or relative of yours. Visit www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org and make your voice heard either for yourself or on behalf of a relative or friend. Please forward this email to at least 10 others who may benefit from this legislation.
  • Get corporate awareness. If you currently do audiological screenings for corporations talk to the human resource executive to get an announcement in their corporate newsletter or for their bulletin board.
  • Write your own professional letter. Using the template provided write a letter on behalf of your patients and be sure to say something personal about them which demonstrates their need for the bill.
  • Issue a local press release. For source material see BHI's press release on this topic.