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Age Is Not An Accident, Deaf Association Told | Voxy.co.nz
ACC is totally committed to meeting its obligations as a consequence of work-related injuries but it is not fair that levy payers are funding age-related hearing loss, a spokesman for ACC Minister Nick Smith says.
"Age is not an accident," the spokesman said today after the National Foundation for the Deaf announced that nearly 20,000 people had written to Dr Smith opposing proposed regulations.
The foundation said that under the proposed regulations, announced in May, ACC would only pay the portion of rehabilitation -- hearing aids and audiology fees -- for the loss of hearing it decided was caused by noise injury.
If ACC's assessors said part of the hearing loss was also caused by age or other factors, the claimant would have to pay a share of the cost.
Foundation chief executive Louise Carroll said there was scientific evidence that it was not possible to separate noise damage and age-related hearing loss retrospectively.
"In fact, the scientists say noise injury can accelerate age-related hearing loss," she said.
"Under these new changes, the claimant will have to find potentially thousands of dollars as their share of the cost of rehabilitation, based on what we believe are faulty assumptions.
"Many won't be able to afford that and will just go without."
Dr Smith's spokesman said ACC's hearing costs had grown from about $20 million a year a decade ago to more than $60 million today, and were projected to increase to $80 million a year if nothing was done.
"This is not sustainable and that is why the Government is considering regulation," he said.
The spokesman said Dr Smith was aware there were some people who would not be able to afford the difference on their own, but there were other government support services that could help them.
"Hearing assistance is available for non-accident hearing loss from the Health Ministry, the Ministry of Social Development and New Zealand Veterans' Affairs," the spokesman said.
Dr Smith has instructed officials to ensure all of the assistance for hearing loss is well co-ordinated and easy to access for those who can't afford to pay for the non-injury component of their hearing loss.
"Final decisions have not yet been made and people should reserve judgment until they see the full package," the spokesman said.
ACC is totally committed to meeting its obligations as a consequence of work-related injuries but it is not fair that levy payers are funding age-related hearing loss, a spokesman for ACC Minister Nick Smith says.
"Age is not an accident," the spokesman said today after the National Foundation for the Deaf announced that nearly 20,000 people had written to Dr Smith opposing proposed regulations.
The foundation said that under the proposed regulations, announced in May, ACC would only pay the portion of rehabilitation -- hearing aids and audiology fees -- for the loss of hearing it decided was caused by noise injury.
If ACC's assessors said part of the hearing loss was also caused by age or other factors, the claimant would have to pay a share of the cost.
Foundation chief executive Louise Carroll said there was scientific evidence that it was not possible to separate noise damage and age-related hearing loss retrospectively.
"In fact, the scientists say noise injury can accelerate age-related hearing loss," she said.
"Under these new changes, the claimant will have to find potentially thousands of dollars as their share of the cost of rehabilitation, based on what we believe are faulty assumptions.
"Many won't be able to afford that and will just go without."
Dr Smith's spokesman said ACC's hearing costs had grown from about $20 million a year a decade ago to more than $60 million today, and were projected to increase to $80 million a year if nothing was done.
"This is not sustainable and that is why the Government is considering regulation," he said.
The spokesman said Dr Smith was aware there were some people who would not be able to afford the difference on their own, but there were other government support services that could help them.
"Hearing assistance is available for non-accident hearing loss from the Health Ministry, the Ministry of Social Development and New Zealand Veterans' Affairs," the spokesman said.
Dr Smith has instructed officials to ensure all of the assistance for hearing loss is well co-ordinated and easy to access for those who can't afford to pay for the non-injury component of their hearing loss.
"Final decisions have not yet been made and people should reserve judgment until they see the full package," the spokesman said.