Coachella Valley Lawmaker Says CA Is Failing Hearing-Impaired Kids

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — Two Inland Empire senators Friday joined in a letter to the California Department of Health Care Services, demanding to know why more than 98% of hearing-impaired children statewide eligible to receive hearing aids under a program that provides them free had not received one.

Sen. Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, and Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, R-Beaumont, were among nine signatories in a letter from the Senate Republican Caucus to the CDHCS regarding the Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program. (In addition to Coachella Valley cities, Melendez also represents Southwest Riverside County cities.)

The program focuses on indigent minors, from infants to 17-year-olds, without the necessary insurance, including Medi-Cal, to procure hearing aids.

"We are writing to ask you why only 39 out of 2,300 children have received hearing aids, what barriers are preventing you from providing 2,300 children with hearing aids, and what corrective actions have been taken?" according to the letter.

The senators wrote that a recent report pointed out that "key improvements" had been applied to the program, but "2,300 children in California (still) need hearing aids that the state promised to provide, yet is failing to do so."

Calls to DHCS seeking comment were not immediately returned.

"We do not doubt that you know providing hearing aids to children so they can better function at school and home is a worthy cause," according to the senators. "But if the state promises hearing aids to children, it must do better than reaching less than 2% of that goal."

The signatories emphasized the importance of ensuring "necessary public services to the most vulnerable communities throughout the state are provided effectively and efficiently."

"We believe that transparency is necessary in every department to make sure those who need critical services are getting them, and that taxpayers are not paying for inefficient, failing programs," they stated.