The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded Oticon Inc a new hearing aid national contract as an official supplier of hearing devices for the more than 9 million US veterans who seek health care through the VA system. In addition to the VA, Oticon will supply hearing solutions to the Department of Defense and other federal agencies within the 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. The new contract, which includes all six of the world’s largest hearing aid manufacturers, takes effect on November 1st for a 1-year base period with the option to extend the contract for four additional 1-year periods.
“We are pleased that the Veterans Administration selected Oticon to supply advanced technology hearing instruments to a population of people with hearing loss who have so generously served their country,” says Oticon President Peer Lauritsen. “Oticon’s dedicated government services team looks forward to continuing to work closely with VA and government audiologists to bring quality products and services to US veterans and active duty military service personnel.”
According to the company, tinnitus and hearing loss are the two most prevalent service-connected disabilities among veterans. Military veterans account for about 20% of all hearing device units dispensed in the United States. In the latest statistics from the Hearing Industries Association (HIA), the VA accounted for 20.6% of all units—or 617,000 out of 2.99 million hearing instruments —dispensed in the United States during 2013, for a unit growth rate of 7.3% over 2012.
In selecting companies for the national contract, the VA focuses on a company’s technical expertise, experience, and capacity. Oticon hearing solutions, built on the company’s Inium platform, offer veterans advanced technology in a small form factor.
The Oticon Alta1 Pro features a selection of tinnitus relief sounds designed to support common tinnitus management approaches. Wireless capabilities also enable veterans to talk hands-free on their cell phone or home phone, enjoy music, watch TV, and more with Oticon’s integrated ConnectLine system. The ConnectLine App for iPhone® and new Streamer Pro transform Alta hearing devices into wireless headsets for easy voice calling, FaceTime, and more.
Source: Oticon
