SEVIERVILLE — To celebrate the recent passing and implementation of Senate Bill 607, a bill that requires health insurance policies to provide hearing aids for children in Tennessee that need them, a reception was held at King Family Library in honor of Sen. Doug Overbey and Rep. Richard Montgomery.

"We engaged with a lot of parents who have children with hearing loss this session," Tennessee Disability Coalition Executive Director Carol Westlake said. "The parents were actively involved in trying to get the bill passed. When (it) passed, parents told us they wanted to say thank you. This (reception) gave parents and community members a chance to."

Sponsored by Overbey and Montgomery, the bill requires insurance companies to provide coverage up to $1,000 per children's hearing aid for each ear, every three years until age 18, for dependents of the policy holder.

By providing children with the aids they need, the bill will lift the financial burdens placed on parents. For Susan Hiscutt of Kingsport, the passing of this bill was crucial.

Hiscutt's 14-year-old son suffers from hearing loss. He was diagnosed with CHARGE syndrome, a condition that affects eyesight and hearing, at only a few days old. At 10 months, Aaron received his first pair of hearing aids. Since then he's had three other sets.

Aaron's first pair was a loaner set, while they waited to see if the family's insurance would cover them. It wouldn't. Aaron's grandparents bought his second pair and his parents purchased the next two. Between the third and fourth pairs more than eight years passed, because the Hiscutts couldn't afford to buy them.

"It took us eight years to save up the money to buy another pair," Susan Hiscutt said. "We've never had insurance cover them."

The most recent pair, purchased in August 2010, has the latest, up-to-date technology. It's vastly improved Aaron's life and communication skills.

"He's been non-verbal all his life," Hiscutt said. "Now he makes speech sounds."

Though insurance didn't cover her son's last pair of hearing aids, Hiscutt hopes to benefit from the bill at least once. But if he doesn't, she's fine with that too.

"Now all kids will," she said. "This legislation was important. Hopefully now kids won't have to wait to see if their insurance covers it. This is very near and dear to me."

Aware of hearing aids' huge expense, Montgomery worked to help the struggling parents.

"Hearing aids are very expensive," he said. "Most families can't afford them. I felt like this mandate was the right thing to do. It should have been done a long time ago."

In addition to to the financial aspects, the bill will positively impact the education of kids with hearing loss.

"Research shows us that a child with hearing loss that gets proper attention, care and hearing aids learns better," Westlake said. "(The bill) also saves $400,000 per child over their public school career. It's good for the state and local government, and the kids."

Education was one of the main reasons Overbey and Montgomery decided to sponsor the bill.

"To know from the beginning they can learn like any other child—that makes me feel good," Montgomery said. "I think (the bill) is critical if you have a child with disabilities. A child with hearing loss can't hear the teacher and can't learn. (Now) they'll be so much more successful. We want to provide all the tools we can to make sure a child is successful in life. I think (the bill) will have a dramatic impact on children over the years."

Overbey adds, "In doing some research, it seemed clear to me that hearing aids for children can make such a difference in their educational abilities. They can learn at a younger age. (This will) make them more productive throughout their lives."

Montgomery and Overbey also express their thanks for all the hard work that went into making the bill possible.

"We have been trying to accomplish this for several years," Overbey said. "We built on the work of a lot of people. (We're here) to celebrate what many people working together were able to accomplish. I'm feeling really surprised and honored that so many people turned out at the library. It gives you a good feeling."

Montgomery adds, "I just want to thank everyone who worked on it and helped us. We had a lot of help. Of all the legislation I've passed in my 13 years in the general assembly, this has done my heart more good than any other. I was extremely honored."

rosborn@themountainpress.com