Hi Lucyg. Yes, you are right that legislation should/would/could resolve this.

However, the problem has been defined as a 'state issue', so each state within the US has to go through the legislative process to get laws on the books. So far, 9 states have succeeded. Wisconsin is not one of them, but we are working on it. With everything else going on right now, this issue becomes very small to the lawmakers, and it gets shoved on the back burner without even getting to committee.

Few people understand how the bureaucracy works. If an issue gets to the committee level where it becomes a potential bill with an actual number that will let constituents comment on it, but does not reach the point where it's debated in the senate or house before a legislative session ends, the bills no longer exist. This means that the advocates who got things that far have to start all over again with the next legislative session. Some things get pushed back for years.

There are very few situations where an advocacy group can get the 'ear' of the lawmakers. It's sometimes a matter of hammering away at it for years. Reality: Legislators look at issues like this as non essential. AND, the people they go to for information, the people who dispense hearing aids....who have doctorate level degrees and must be licensed to sell hearing aids....do not want these bills to pass and mandate how they do their business. They think they have all the answers. They don't.

Getting laws in place requires an energized group of people who want those laws, and who are willing to stick their necks out to get involved in effecting change. Where do those volunteers come from? How many who are reading this, who have hearing loss, have become involved in this kind of advocacy? It's not a simple process. But if the answer was 'thousands are actively involved', things would change fairly fast.