Changes to ACC Funding

The new ACC regulations came into force on 1 January 2011. Because many of the aspects of the changes are still being defined, it is difficult for us to be completely sure how they will be implemented in practice, but below you will find an update of the main changes, as we understand them.

Funding for hearing instruments
ACC will determine how much of the client’s total hearing loss they believe is due to injury (eg, noise exposure) and, if it is more than 6%, based upon this calculation will contribute to a portion of the hearing aid cost. In most cases there will also be a contribution from the Ministry of Health for non-injury (eg, age-related) hearing loss. ACC then provides the claimant with a letter outlining the total amount that they will provide to assist with a hearing aid purchase. ACC has left it up to the claimant and the audiologist to decide which product is best for that person, but are not providing sufficient funding to deliver a complete hearing solution. In other words, in all cases (both new claims, and replacement hearing aids for existing claimants) the hearing aid user will need to contribute financially to the cost of their hearing aids.

The funding (or, more accurately, subsidy) provided by ACC and the Ministry of Health for hearing instruments will not be repeated until the hearing devices are at least six years old.

Accessories and Consumables
ACC will no longer provide funding for accessories such as remote controls or streamers, or assistive devices such as telephones. Consumables will no longer be routinely covered (eg, domes, wax filters or cleaning products), with the exception of batteries which they will still courier to you via their supplier.

Services and repairs
Only after a hearing aid is two years old will ACC contribute to any repair costs. In this case, ACC will contribute up to $200 for a single repair of a hearing aid, but only once every two years. This is a one off payment, so we are unable to invoice ACC for any more than one repair within a two year period (even if the repair cost is less than $200). Note also that this service charge is $200 per claimant per two years, regardless of whether the claimant has one or two hearing instruments.

ACC will contribute up to $57.50 two times per year (per claimant, not per aid) to cover the cost of fault-finding appointments or the cost of consumables such as earmould tubings and replacement domes.

Annual hearing and hearinginstrument reviews
There will be no contribution from ACC towards the annual monitoring of your degree of hearing loss and performance of your hearing instruments. This is a cost that ACC is now passing on to its claimants. Once the hearing aids provided by ACC are six years old, they may at that stage pay for an updated assessment of the claimants hearing.

Many of these changes are confusing, so if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you have any concerns around these changes please realise that our hands are tied – we have to adhere to the rules put in place by ACC. In this case, we suggest you contact your ACC Case Manager, or write to your local MP.

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