With a new Web site, www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org, to support the proposed hearing aid tax credit, the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) in collaboration with the Hearing Industries Association (HIA) makes it easy for all Americans to send letters to their Senators and Representatives in support of tax credit legislation (HR2329/S1410). The goal of the Web site is to bring this issue to the attention of every Senator and Representative in the country.

When someone visits www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org, a push of a button enables them to send letters to their respective Senators and Representative. Features include:

·        Identification of correct Senators and Representative according to name, address and zip code;

·        Form letter with personalization options;

·        Ability to print or e-mail letters;

·        Ability to e-mail up to 10 friends about the bill.

BHI and HIA also suggest the following strategies to support the hearing aid tax credit:

·        Inform all hearing aid and ALD users. Provide a message about the legislation and the Web site to all your hearing patients. The BHI/HIA suggested message is:Your Congressman and Senators are considering a proposal to provide you with a tax credit for hearing aid treatment. They need to hear that you support this idea now! Visit www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org. A sample card is available on the BHI Web site.

·        Place a message on your Web site, such as: Help pass hearing aid tax credit legislation now: www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org.

·        Promote the site in your newsletter.

·        Promote the site on your business card.

·        Send an eBlast to your patients.

·        Do a post card campaign. A suggested postcard design is available on the BHI Web site.

·        Place an OpEd piece in your local newspaper. A suggested OpEd piece is available on the BHI Web site. Hearing health professionals are permitted to modify this piece to promote their practices.

·        Promote the Web site in your community at places like: physician offices, chiropractor offices, drug stores, food store bulletin boards, senior centers, assistive living and retirement communities, places of worship (newsletters, bulletin boards), day care centers, schools, places where boomers and seniors meet (golf courses, tennis clubs, bowling alley, etc)

·        Start a chain e-mail. Suggested message: Hearing loss affects 1 in 4 households in America. Congress is considering a proposal to provide Americans with a tax credit for hearing aid treatment. They need to hear that you support this idea now! While passage of the tax credit bill may not impact you it could help a friend or relative of yours. Visit www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org and make your voice heard either for yourself or on behalf of a relative or friend. Please forward this email to at least 10 others who may benefit from this legislation.

·        Get corporate awareness. If you currently do audiological screenings for local corporations, talk to the human resource executive to get an announcement in their corporate newsletter or for their bulletin board.

·        Write your own professional letter for your patients.

·        Issue a local press release. A sample press release is available on the BHI Web site.

For more information: www.betterhearing.org, www.hearing.org