The fitting maintenance fee is a bundled fee that is expected to cover two years of service and maintenance, per hearing device, from the hearing service provider selected by the injured worker. Therefore, WorkSafeNB does not compensate hearing services providers for each client visit.
Hearing service providers must provide all the services outlined below when fitting (a) hearing aid device(s) and will be paid for the fitting fee as outlined in the fee schedule shown in #7.
The Fitting-Maintenance Fee and Support and Maintenance Fee will cover the following maintenance services:
a) Minimum of two cleanings every year for five-year period.
b) Assessment of problems. This may also include assessment related to manufacturer repairs.
c) Minor in-house repairs, which include, but are not limited to adjustments, reprogramming, removal of wax from the device, cleaning, repair/replacement of battery doors, ear hooks, tubing, and wax guards. Minor repairs are expected to be minimized by appropriate training and education of the injured worker during the fitting process. Hearing aid devices with repeated repairs will be monitored and audited against the manufacturer’s serial number. The hearing services provider must identify on any invoice and the WorkSafeNB Form HA-01, Hearing Aid Fitting and Service Report what service was provided and the serial number of the applicable hearing aid device.
d) Counselling.
Fitting-Maintenance Fee includes real ear measurements, ear molds, ear impressions, ear mold blowers, Dri-Aid Kits and other consumables.
If an injured worker requires a new ear mold because it no longer fits after the two-year hearing device warranty expires, WorkSafeNB will remit only once over a subsequent one-year time period an inclusive flat fee payment of $90 per device to the hearing service provider. The hearing service provider must complete and submit WorkSafeNB Form HA-01 – Hearing Aid Fitting and Service Report.
Manufacturer repairs are applicable after the hearing aid device warranty period of two years has expired and an injured worker’s hearing aid device must be sent to the manufacturer because it has died, has internal feedback, is noisy or hissing, requires a circuit or shell change, or does not meet the manufacturer’s electroacoustic specifications.
Hearing services providers will provide an annual supply of batteries. The quantity of batteries supplied, 100 annually per device for size 10 batteries and 60 annually per device for all other battery sizes, must be clearly indicated on the invoice, and the maximum price WorkSafeNB will pay is $1 per battery. Suppliers will be responsible for managing inventory of batteries and tracking batteries dispensed to WorkSafeNB clients.
Suppliers may invoice WorkSafeNB annually for the maximum amount of batteries per client served. WorkSafeNB does not pay for battery supplies that exceed the annual maximum quantity.
The hearing services provider must complete and submit WorkSafeNB Form HA-01-Hearing Aid Fitting and Service Report when supplying batteries.
A hearing test is part of the worker’s application for workers’ compensation benefits. It is required to determine entitlement to compensable occupational noise-induced hearing loss resulting from hazardous noise levels in and out of the workplace, or within a certain specified time from the end of exposure to hazardous noise levels in and out of the workplace. The initial hearing test must be performed by a qualified supplier.
A full diagnostic hearing assessment is not part of the bundled fitting maintenance fee. It may, therefore, be separately invoiced at $100 per worker. WorkSafeNB pays for the initial full diagnostic hearing assessments to determine the injured worker’s hearing loss only when requested by WorkSafeNB. Additional assessments are only considered when pure-tone evaluations indicate a significant change in the injured worker’s hearing loss. A significant change in hearing is defined as a minimum of 20 dB HL in three or more of the octave frequencies between 500 Hz and 4000 Hz.
A full diagnostic hearing assessment must include:
The hearing services provider must complete and send to WorkSafeNB Form HA-01 – Hearing Aid Fitting and Service Report.
A hearing re-evaluation may be performed if the injured worker complains of hearing difficulty and the hearing device has been evaluated to determine that it is programmed appropriately and functioning properly. WorkSafeNB will pay a flat fee of $60 for a hearing re-evaluation.
WorkSafeNB defines the hearing re-evaluation test to include, at minimum:
The hearing services provider must complete and send to WorkSafeNB Form HA-01 – Hearing Aid Fitting and Service Report.
WorkSafeNB expects hearing services providers to maintain detailed, legible assessment and service records related to hearing and hearing aid devices of injured workers. Upon request, the hearing services provider is expected to supply WorkSafeNB with a full copy of the injured worker’s file within five working days to be eligible to invoice WorkSafeNB $50 for this service.
A support clerk with WorkSafeNB’s Intake and Adjudication Department must make the request for a copy of the injured worker’s file. The support clerk will provide a claim number to the hearing services provider at the time of the request.
The hearing services provider must complete and send to WorkSafeNB Form HA-01 – Hearing Aid Fitting and Service Report before their invoice will be paid.
New Brunswick-approved hearing service providers who are approached by injured workers wanting to transfer service, must contact WorkSafeNB’s Intake and Adjudication Department for approval.
WorkSafeNB will replace an injured worker’s hearing aid device only when medically necessary. The minimum replacement time frame is currently every five years.
For new hearing aid devices to be approved, the injured worker’s current hearing aid devices must be proven to be inappropriate.
The hearing service providers must not solicit injured workers for replacement of current hearing aid devices; replacement must be initiated by the injured worker.
Hearing aid devices will not be replaced while under manufacturer or repair warranty without authorization by WorkSafeNB. In these circumstances, hearing services providers must submit WorkSafeNB Form HA-02- Exception Report for approval.
