April 2024 State Legislative Update

In early April, as 19 state legislatures concluded their sessions for the year, a flurry of legislative activity marked the landscape, particularly in audiology and hearing health care.

The Academy monitors the development of emerging issues and trends that impact audiology professionals and the individuals they serve. Legislation aimed at implementing the interstate licensure compact was introduced in several states, signaling a concerted effort to streamline licensure processes and facilitate mobility for audiologists across state lines.

Other relevant legislation focused on enhancing access to quality hearing health care, expanding insurance coverage for hearing aids, and scope of practice issues. These highlights include but are not limited to the following:

• Florida Senate Bill 7016 and Senate Bill 322: Governor DeSantis’ “Live Healthy” legislative package included bills 322 and 7016 that established the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact across the state. This was signed into law before Florida’s session adjourned in early March. 

• Maryland Senate Bill 795: Widens the scope of practice for audiology to include cerumen removal and the ordering of bloodwork/cultures and imaging as it relates to auditory and vestibular conditions. This bill passed both chambers and is on the governor’s desk awaiting action.

• New Jersey S.1171: Expands Medicaid coverage for unilateral or bilateral hearing aids, cochlear implants, or osseointegrated devices and related services. The Academy sent a letter to the Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee in support of its passage.

• Oklahoma House Bill 3951: Requires hearing screening for children at certain intervals in elementary and secondary schools and establishes best practice protocols for this screening. This legislation would bring Oklahoma in line with the 70 percent of states that require hearing screening for school-aged children. The Academy submitted a letter of support. However, this bill failed to move out of the house by the crossover deadline so it will not be progressing further this session.

• Oklahoma House Bill 3952: Adds an audiologist as a member of the State Department of Education Literacy Instruction Team. The Academy submitted a letter of support.

• Wyoming Senate Bill 0057: Establishes an adult hearing aid program catering to adults who are ineligible for coverage through private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or other third-party payers. Under this program, individuals are entitled to one hearing aid per ear every five years. The bill successfully cleared both chambers and received the governor’s signature in late March, solidifying its enactment into law.