4123-7-20 Payment for hearing aids.

(A) Where an industrial injury or an industrial accident which causes an injury also damages the claimant’s hearing aid(s), a self-insuring employer shall approve payment to replace such hearing aid(s) as follows:

(1) For injuries or accidents sustained prior to January 1, 1979, the hearing aid(s) must be in place in the claimant’s ear(s) at the time of the injury or accident.

(2) For injuries or accidents sustained on or after January 1, 1979, the requirements of paragraph (A)(1) of this rule do not apply.

(3) Once hearing aid(s) have been replaced, no further replacement will be approved.

(B) When a partial loss of hearing is the direct result of an allowed industrial injury or occupational disease, payment for hearing aid(s) is justified in order to improve the claimant’s ability to hear.

HISTORY: Eff 1-1-78; 12-21-79; 2-14-05

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: RC 4121.12, 4121.121, 4121.30, 4121.31, 4123.05, 4123.66

Rule Amplifies: RC 4123.66

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 10/26/2004 and 03/01/2009