From: Lubach, Cheryl A [lubach.cheryl@marshfieldclinic.org]
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 3:52 PM
To: Kerkman, Samantha
Subject: [Possible Spam] Letter of Support AB 16/SB 27

Importance: Low
Please see the following letter of support regarding AB 16/SB 27, health insurance coverage for hearing aids and cochlear implants for children.
 
Thank you
 
April 21, 2009
 
 
Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
State Capitol
Madison, WI
 
Dear Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly:
 
We are writing to you today to indicate Marshfield Clinic’s support for AB 16/SB 27 which mandates health insurance coverage for hearing aids and cochlear implants for children with severe hearing loss who would benefit from this treatment.  The weight of medical evidence demonstrates that children of all ages, but especially newborns identified in the first six months of life and treated with appropriate hearing aids including, if warranted, cochlear implants, can realize speech and language development on par with peers by the time they start school.
 
Recognizing that insurance mandates do add to the overall cost of health insurance and at some point may cause employers to assess their ability to afford it for their employees, this bill clearly will benefit children and, in the long term, will favorably impact societal costs.
 
Thank you for your consideration.
 
Sincerely,
                                              
Karl J. Ulrich, MD, MMM                  Douglas Reding, MD, MPH
CEO/President                                    Vice-President & Chair, Government Relations