On May 29, 2024, Maryland SB 795 and HB 464 officially became law, making Maryland the most recent state in the union to fully align its audiology practice act with the education, training, and qualifications of audiologists practicing in the State.
ADA members Drs. Jana Brown, Briana Bruno Holtan, Melissa Segev, and Alicia Spoor led efforts undertaken by the Maryland Academy of Audiology (MAA) to draft the legislation, provide testimony, information, and resources to secure support from legislators, and to engage stakeholders from various agencies and organizations to accomplish this long-anticipated achievement. ADA was pleased to provide a letter of support for this important initiative.
The bills, which passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support, make it clear that audiologists are authorized to “evaluate, diagnose, manage, and treat auditory or vestibular conditions in the human ear” in the State of Maryland. The newly minted law, which goes into effect on October 1, 2024, also makes other important updates to Maryland’s statutory definition of the Practice of Audiology to include and codify the following:
- Prescribe, order, sell, dispense, or externally fit a sound processor to an osseo-integrated device for the correction or relief of a condition for which osseo-integrated devices are worn.
- Prescribe, order, sell, dispense, or externally fit a sound processor to a cochlear implant for the correction or relief of a condition for which cochlear implants are worn.
- The conducting of health screenings.
- The removal of a foreign body from the external auditory canal that is not impacted to the point it requires anesthesia.
- The removal of cerumen from the external auditory canal that is not impacted to the point it requires anesthesia.
- The ordering of cultures and bloodwork testing as it relates to the auditory or vestibular conditions in the human ear.
- The ordering and performing of in-office nonradiographic scanning or imaging of the external auditory canal.
- The ordering of radiographic imaging as it relates to the auditory or vestibular conditions in the human ear.
“Modernizing the audiology practice Statute in Maryland to finally reflect the level of education and training of Doctors of Audiology allows licensed audiologists, especially in rural areas, to provide evidence-based care to patients. Additionally, this new law will reduce the burden of office visits necessary for a patient to obtain appropriate diagnoses and efficient treatment” said Jana Brown, Au.D. Dr. Bruno Holtan stated “Beginning in October, Maryland audiologists will be able to better care for patients and collaborate with physicians. This Statute change harmonizes audiologists with the other clinical doctors in the state. In addition, more adults will be able to access hearing healthcare treatment with the new insurance coverage for hearing aids.”
“Because of these audiologist ‘AuDvocates,’ Maryland is now the lodestar for the rest of the country,” said Jason Leyendecker, Au.D., ADA President. “MAA’s efforts to square the practice of audiology with their audiology practice act demonstrate the critical role that state associations play in advocacy for licensure issues. Every audiologist should belong to their state association—and if their state doesn’t have a professional audiology association, they should start one.”
As a reminder, ADA provides a $100 discount off its individual membership dues for audiologists who belong to their state association, and $300 off practice membership dues for practice owners who belong to their state association.