23336 (2024). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister for Disability Issues

23336 (2024). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister for Disability Issues: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter October to December 2023 toward implementing the recommendation ‘The New Zealand hearing aid subsidy should be increased to cover the cost of hearing aids, assessment and fitting, and the hearing aid funding scheme should be extended to cover the cost of fitting and assessing hearing aids. There is also a need to increase funding by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), which applies to people for whom more than 6% of hearing loss is due to an injury’ in the Aged care Commissioner’s report ‘Amplifying the voices of older people across Aotearoa New Zealand’?

Hon Louise Upston: The Ministry of Disabled People-Whaikaha is working to improve the financial sustainability of disability support services. This Government has shown its commitment to disabled people through its investment of $1.1 billion over four years to ensure people continue to receive disability support services. I want to ensure that we respond to those with the greatest need. The Government has set up an Independent Review of the disability support system and I am looking forward to their recommendations, which will inform the funding decisions which will be made in the coming months.