The program requires that clients eligible for hearing devices must be offered a fully subsidised option.
There have been issues raised where some clients are not being offered a fully subsidised Contralateral Routing of Signals (CROS)/ Bilateral Contralateral Routing of Signals (BiCROS) option as some device suppliers with fully subsidised CROS / BiCROS devices listed on the approved device schedule do not have fully subsidised hearing devices compatible with those CROS/BiCROS.
To assist providers to offer clients fully subsidised CROS/BiCROS devices with matching fully subsidised hearing devices, the program provides the following table comprising of CROS/BiCROS devices and the compatible fully subsidised devices. This information has been provided by the device manufacturers and is complete as at the date of publication of this notice.
| CROS/BiCROS | Device Code | Fully Subsidised Compatible | Device Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Widex CROS/BiCROS BTE (Wireless) | N0267BI | Widex Magnify 110 BTE 312 | B449SIE |
| Widex CROS/BiCROS BTE (Wireless) | N0267BI | Widex Evoke 50 FA | B455SIE |
| Pure 312 AX CROS/BICROS Transmitter | N0272BI | Intuis M 4.1 | B530SIE |
| Pure 312 AX CROS/BICROS Transmitter | N0272BI | Intuis P 4.1 | B532SIE |
| Pure 312 AX CROS/BICROS Transmitter | N0272BI | Intuis SP 4.1 | B534SIE |
| CROS SILK C&G IX | N0313BI | Insio ITC 1IX | C342SIE |
| CROS SILK C&G IX | N0313BI | Insio ITE 1IX | I222SIE |
| Advance 80 CROS RIC Advance 80 CROS RIC Li | N0296CR N0298CR | Advance 280 BTE SP | B329SPE |
| Advance 80 CROS RIC Advance 80 CROS RIC Li | N0296CR N0298CR | Advance 280 RIC | B284SPE |
| Advance 80 CROS RIC Advance 80 CROS RIC Li | N0296CR N0298CR | Advance 280 BTE M | B325SPE |
| Advance 80 CROS RIC Advance 80 CROS RIC Li | N0296CR N0298CR | Advance 280 BTE P | B327SPE |
| Evolv AI CROS/BiCROS Transmitter RIC 312 | N0278BI | Evolv AI 1000 RIC 312 | B523STA |
| Evolv AI CROS/BiCROS Transmitter BTE 13 | N0280BI | Evolv AI 1000 BTE 13 | B524STA |
| Oticon CROS/BiCROS | N0223CR | Jet PX 2 miniBTE T Xceed 3 SP BTE Xceed 3 UP BTE Zircon 2 miniBTE T | B302AUD B288AUD B289AUD B197AUD |
Please ensure that you review the device schedule to ensure that these devices are still current at the date of fitting.
Related legislative and contractual requirements
The following references address requirements around client choice when it comes to hearing devices which must include a fully subsidised device option being offered to the client.
Hearing Services Program (Schedule of Service Items and Fees 2025-26) Instrument (No.2) 2025
Section 6 Subsection (1) addresses device recommendation requirements
If eligible for a fitting, clients must be provided with a choice from a range of types and styles of approved hearing devices which are available on the fully subsidised schedule.
Hearing Services Program (Voucher) Instrument 2019 - Federal Register of Legislation
Section 45 subsection (1) addresses the choice of hearing device available to eligible program clients
If a contracted service provider determines that a voucher holder requires a hearing device, the contracted service provider must provide the voucher holder with a choice from a range of types and styles of approved hearing devices which are available free of charge to the voucher holder under the voucher system and are appropriate to meet the voucher holder's audiological needs.
Section 46 subsection (1) addresses supply of devices to eligible program clients
There should be a fully subsidised option available to clients.
A contracted service provider must not encourage a voucher holder to select and pay for a partially subsidised device where an approved hearing device available to the voucher holder free of charge under the voucher system would reasonably meet the voucher holder's hearing rehabilitation needs
Possible Consequences
Failure to offer fully subsidised devices is a potential breach of legislation and the contract and may result in recovery action and/or other compliance actions initiated by the program.