Newsroom
The latest updates and important news regarding Let California Kids Hear and the California initiative for hearing aid coverage for children.
LCKH Response to Press Release Issued By Newsom Administration Following Junior Ambassador Testimony
"We are deeply disappointed by this response from Governor Newsom. After years of advocacy and powerful testimony from families and children, including our Junior Ambassadors, it is disheartening to see responsibility shifted to the federal government. While federal...
“Governor, after all these years…why aren’t we included in California For All?” – Marie, Junior Ambassador
Children stood before the Senate asking for something simple: equal access to sound. California has allocated almost $30 million - mostly to administration- while funding for children has gone largely unspent. Fewer than 300 children received hearing aids....
We Are Not Done Yet
I want to start with an honest update. Many of us, including me, believed this was done when California submitted its application to the federal government—though I was holding my breath, given the long journey we’ve all been on. New federal rules were issued, and...
California applies to HHS to expand essential health benefits to include hearing aids
As published here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/05/05/california-applies-to-expand-essential-health-benefits-to-include-ivf-hearing-exams/ Sacramento, California – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom, through the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), submitted an...
Kids Can’t Wait: Policymakers Take Action to Include Hearing Aids in California’s New Health Insurance Benchmark
As published here: https://www.childrennow.org/blog/kids-cant-wait-policymakers-take-action-to-include-hearing-aids-in-californias-new-health-insurance-benchmark/ For decades California’s kids have been experiencing a developmental emergency. More than 20,000...
Families fume over Newsom’s veto of children’s hearing aid bill, call his plan ‘a nightmare’
As published here: https://calmatters.org/health/2023/10/newsom-vetoes-childrens-hearing-aids-bill/ Two of Johanna Wonderly’s four children depend on hearing aids, and the other two will probably need them in the future. At roughly $6,000 per child, the cost adds up...
Governor Newsom: Please sign SB 635!
KPIX: Bill to expand hearing aid coverage in California awaits governor’s signature
As aired on CBS Bay Area on September 28, 2023.
CNN: Parents are pushing to get insurance coverage for children’s hearing aids
As published on CNN.com by Sam Sider on September 27, 2023. When Michelle Marciniak’s daughter Marie was 4 years old, a preschool teacher noticed a change in her behavior. She was losing speech skills and crying during circle time with the group. Her parents found out...
SacBee: Can California Gov. Gavin Newsom show some guts on these 5 controversial bills? | Opinion
Selection of article published on September 20, 2023 in the Sacramento Bee: Gov. Gavin Newsom has before him about a thousand bills approved by the California Legislature that now await his fate but some are far more explosive and politically consequential than...
Press Releases
- Gov. Newsom Vetoes SB 635, Dealing Crushing Blow to Thousands of CA Kids
- Idina Menzel and Rick Caruso Join Statewide “Let California Kids Hear” campaign
Thursday, August 8, 2019 - Assemblymember Bloom Tells the California Legislature the Time is Now to Let Kids Hear
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - Legislation to Expand Insurance Coverage for Children’s Hearing Aids Advances
Tuesday, April 23, 2019 - Assemblymember Bloom’s AB 1601 Passes out of Assembly Health Committee (2017)
- Legislation to Ensure Pediatric Hearing Aid Coverage Passes Key Policy Committee (2016)
Updates on Facebook
Our Facebook page includes a number of personal stories and smaller, more frequent updates.
