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The Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act was recently re-introduced by Representatives Tom Rice (R-SC) and Matt Cartwright (D-PA), with more than 20 bipartisan original co-sponsors. H.R. 1587 would provide a commonsense solution to modernize Medicare regulations to ensure beneficiaries have access to a full range of hearing and balance health-care services provided by licensed audiologists. The bill would classify audiologists as “practitioners,”—consistent with how Medicare treats similar allied health-care professionals, remove the physician order requirement, and allow audiologists to provide and be reimbursed for diagnostic and treatment services.
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