Our Position
The Academy believes that a physician-led healthcare team is the best approach for providing high-quality care to patients.
As such, the Academy is strongly opposed to the
Background
The audiology community continues to pursue legislation that would remove existing physician referral requirements and granting audiologists with “limited license physician” status within the Medicare program. Hearing and balance disorders are medical conditions that require a full patient history and physical examination by a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) for proper diagnosis and treatment.
While audiologists are valued health professionals who work for and with physicians, they do not possess the medical training necessary to perform the same duties as physicians, nor are they able to provide patients with the full range of medical diagnosis and treatment options. The Academy opposes any legislation that would allow audiologists to independently diagnose and treat the medical conditions associated with hearing loss.
Ensuring patient safety for hearing healthcare
Lawmakers in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives introduced the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (S. 2377 / H.R. 6445), which would inappropriately expand the scope of practice for audiologists and put Medicare beneficiaries at risk by undermining physician-led team care. The legislation is opposed by the AAO-HNS and 111 national, state, and local medical organizations.
In the 117th Congress, lawmakers in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives introduced very similar legislation. That legislation was opposed by the AAO-HNS and 110 national, state and local medical organizations. In large part due to this opposition from the medical community, that legislation did not pass.
Resources
118th Congress
- AAO-HNS One-Pager on S. 2377/H.R. 6445
- 🚨 Call to Action: Urge Congress to Protect Patients & Oppose S. 2377 / H.R. 6445
- AAO-HNS led coalition letter in opposition to Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (S. 2377)
- AAO-HNS led coalition letter in opposition to Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (H.R. 6445)
- Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (S. 2377 / H.R. 6445) – Bill Text
117th Congress
