Are Speech Amplifiers Covered by Medicare?
Yes, Medicare covers Speech Amplifiers, but NOT as SGDs. Voice amplifiers are used by people who are unable to produce speech with enough volume to meet their daily communication needs. Individuals with ALS and other impairments may need voice amplification to effectively engage in face to face communication as well as telephone communication. Medicare covers voice amplifiers under a different benefit category than SGDs. SGDs are classified as DME by Medicare; amplifiers are classified as prosthetic devices. Amplifiers are covered by Medicare pursuant to a joint policy statement of the four DMERCs. They wrote: The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) [now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS] has determined that voice amplifiers used for beneficiaries with impaired function of their larynx (which is still present) are eligible for coverage by Medicare. This decision is retroactive, and therefore applies to any dates of service on which these items were/are provide
