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✦ The Dispatch

ACI Alliance Releases Free Medicaid Toolkit Ahead of Expected Federal Funding Cuts

A dispatch from Hearing Review — filed

ACI Alliance logo with the text American Cochlear Implant Alliance and tagline Research. Advocacy. Awareness. on a white background.
✦ PlateACI Alliance logo with the text American Cochlear Implant Alliance and tagline Research. Advocacy. Awareness. on a white background.

The six-module online resource is designed to help audiologists, CI surgeons, and advocates protect cochlear implant coverage as OBBBA-driven Medicaid changes take effect as early as December 2026. The American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance) has released a free online Medicaid toolkit aimed at equipping clinicians, patient navigators, and advocates with the information and resources needed to protect...

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✦ The floor

Discussion

Signed responses from readers of the wire.

Clinical Takeaway

No change to clinical practice is needed, but audiologists and CI teams who serve Medicaid patients should access the free ACI Alliance toolkit now to prepare advocacy strategies before anticipated federal funding cuts take effect.

Why It Matters

Potential federal Medicaid cuts could eliminate or restrict cochlear implant coverage for low-income patients, directly threatening access to a standard-of-care intervention for severe-to-profound hearing loss.

Key Points
  1. 01ACI Alliance released a free, six-module online toolkit focused on protecting Medicaid CI coverage.
  2. 02The toolkit targets audiologists, cochlear implant surgeons, and patient advocates.
  3. 03Federal funding changes under OBBBA are anticipated by December 2026.
  4. 04The resource is designed to equip clinicians and advocates with actionable policy arguments.
  5. 05No cost to access; timing is proactive ahead of legislative changes.
Claims & Evidence

Federal funding cuts to Medicaid cochlear implant coverage are expected under OBBBA changes by December 2026.

opinionunclear

The ACI Alliance toolkit consists of six modules and is available for free.

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