You are the AuDvocate Audiology Needs!
Stephanie Czuhajewski, MPH, CAE, Executive Director
The need for robust advocacy for the audiology profession has never been more crucial. At both the state and federal levels, audiologists face unique challenges and opportunities that demand our attention and action. Your voice is essential in advancing the profession, ensuring that audiology’s scope of practice reflects contemporary evidence-based practices, and advocating for critical legislative measures such as the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act.
Modernizing Scope of Practice
The scope of practice for audiologists must be dynamic. State audiology practice statutes should be responsive to evidence, evolving patient needs, and to address even unforeseen circumstances. For instance, audiologists in states with laws that allowed for tele-audiology during the COVID-19 pandemic were better able to assist patients than audiologists in states that did not. Advocating for coverage of tele-audiology services is equally important to ensure that patients have practical access to hearing and balance healthcare, regardless of geographic barriers.
Modernizing state audiology statutes to reflect audiologists’ role in evaluating, managing, diagnosing, and treating auditory and vestibular conditions is imperative. As we adopt more comprehensive approaches to audiological care, our advocacy efforts must highlight the importance of these services in improving patient outcomes and quality of life. The vast majority of state statutes do not clearly define the practice of audiology in a manner that is consistent with the training and qualifications of audiologists as clinical doctoring professionals.
Many state statutes have yet to be updated to incorporate implementation of the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act to address the role of audiologists as ordering or prescribing providers. This important update is necessary to assure continued efficient access to audiologists for consumers and prevent disruptions in coverage or claims denials due to ambiguity in statutes governing audiologists’ scope of practice.
The Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act
One of the most significant legislative priorities for audiologists and their patients is the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act. Medicare’s outdated policies create unnecessary barriers for traditional Medicare beneficiaries. The Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act addresses these issues through the following provisions:
- Eliminate the physician order requirement to improve patient access. Patients will have direct access to audiological care, reducing wait times and out of pocket costs.
- Enhance continuity of care by enabling audiologists to be reimbursed for all of the Medicare-covered services that they are licensed to provide, including therapeutic services.
- Reclassify audiologists from suppliers to practitioners so that they can be better deployed within the Medicare system. This would allow Medicare beneficiaries to access audiology services via telehealth.