The New York State Senate is expected to vote today on a bill that would create a Westchester County pilot program to allow physician practices to dispense hearing aids for a significant profit.
Key Concerns
- This legislation may jeopardize independent audiology practices and thereby limit a patient’s choice of provider.
- Contradicts current New York State prohibition on physician self-referral. The current law prohibits physicians from benefitting financially from the sale of products/services ordered by the physician—including hearing aids to prevent conflicts of interest.
- The Government Accounting Office (GAO) has found that exemptions to physician self-referral laws result in higher costs to the health-care system and consumers.
- Current law already permits physicians to dispense hearing aids to patients and allows a modest profit (5%). This law would vastly expand the profit margin for physicians.
- This legislation would allow hearing aid dispensers and audiologists employed by an otolaryngologist to dispense hearing aids for a profit; however, this legislation is designed for the benefit of the physician practice.
Contact your State Senator Immediately!!
See Academy Legislative Action Center to find contact information for your New York State Senator.
Related Posts
Academy Opposes Tennessee Legislation to Add Cerumen Management to Hearing Instrument Specialist Scope of Practice
The Academy expressed its opposition to Tennessee legislation (SB 665/ HB 920) that would add cerumen management to the scope of practice for hearing instrument specialists who have completed an International Hearing Society cerumen management course. The Academy’s letter pointed out the critical differences between the education and training of an audiologist and a hearing…
Academy Weighs In Against Illinois Bill to License Audiology Assistants
The American Academy of Audiology has expressed its opposition to Illinois HB 3102 that would create a new licensure category for audiology assistants and would allow proof of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certification as an audiology assistant as a pathway to such licensure. The American Academy of Audiology does not see a necessity for state licensing…
Academy Opposes Florida Legislation to Remove Audiological Evaluation Prior to Issuance of Hearing Aid
The American Academy of Audiology has expressed its opposition to Florida legislation that would remove the current state requirement that individuals receive evaluation and testing by a licensed audiologist and instead allow individuals simply to sign a waiver prior to receiving a hearing aid. This legislation was introduced and very quickly amended into SB 700—a large…
