Rates / Fees
1. Policy 25-007 – Prostheses, Orthoses, and Assistive Devices provides authority for WorkSafeNB to provide hearing aids and hearing aid batteries when:
Hearing Aids and Batteries Damaged as a Result of a Compensable Injury
2. WorkSafeNB repairs or replaces pre-accident hearing aids and batteries, one time only, when damaged as a result of a compensable workplace injury. The replacement value is equal to a hearing aid and/or battery of similar type and quality to the one that was damaged.
3. WorkSafeNB is not responsible for on-going maintenance or subsequent repair or replacement.
Hearing Aids Provided to Treat a Compensable Injury
4. WorkSafeNB only provides hearing aids to treat a compensable workplace injury when prescribed by a licensed audiologist or hearing instrument specialist.
5. In most cases, WorkSafeNB pays the standard rate negotiated with the manufacturers. In exceptional circumstances, and when approved by a WorkSafeNB audiologist consultant, WorkSafeNB may pay the higher negotiated rate.
6. Should an injured worker prefer a hearing aid other than the one prescribed at the negotiated rate, the client pays the cost difference between WorkSafeNB’s negotiated hearing aid rate and their preferred hearing aid.
7. In very rare instances, WorkSafeNB may approve payments outside the negotiated rate, on the approval of a WorkSafeNB audiologist consultant.
8. Upon the submission and approval of a Form HA-01-Hearing Aid Fitting and Service Report, WorkSafeNB will pay the approved service provider the negotiated rate.
Repair and Replacement
9. Injured workers are responsible for the day-to-day care of their hearing aids. When repairs are required because of normal wear and tear, beyond the warranty period, repairs will be managed by approved service providers. WorkSafeNB will pay the approved service provider the negotiated rate upon the submission of a Form HA-01-Hearing Aid Fitting and Service Report.
10. WorkSafeNB pays for the replacement of an injured worker’s hearing aids when the current hearing aids are determined, by a licensed audiologist or hearing instrument specialist, to be no longer appropriate for treating the compensable injury. WorkSafeNB will limit replacement to once every five years, unless medically necessary as determined by WorkSafeNB upon a recommendation by a licensed audiologist or hearing instrument specialist through the submission of a Form HA-02-Exception Report.
Batteries
11. Approved hearing aid providers will provide batteries directly to the injured worker, either on an annual or biannual basis based on the injured worker’s preference. Upon the submission and approval of a Form HA-01-Hearing Aid Fitting and Service Report, WorkSafeNB will pay the approved service provider the negotiated rate.
Accessories
12. WorkSafeNB does not approve or purchase any accessories that are not included with the purchase of the hearing aid at the negotiated rate. Any additional accessories are the responsibility of the injured worker. WorkSafeNB will consider exceptional circumstances, based on medical need, on a case by case basis and may approve the purchase of an accessory.
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