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Current New York State legislative issues in speech-language
pathology and audiology
Continuing competency bill is passed
The changes in legislation that took effect in January, 2001, require, all licensed Speech - Language Pathologists and Audiologists in NY State to complete 30 hours of continuing competency activities as a condition of their tri-ennial license renewal. Twenty of the thirty hours must be in activities pertinent to the scope of practice. Continuing Competency activities may include but are not limited to college courses, independent study, formal mentoring, publications in journals, professional development and technical sessions. There will be a staging process to ensure the new rules are applied fairly and in recognition of license renewal periods. A $50.00 fee each tri-ennial registration period is anticipated to cover the cost of monitoring the continuing competency activities. Come to the March 27, 2001 LISHA conference at CW Post to discuss the proposed regulations with the NYSSLHA Steering Committee.
Hearing aid dispensing amendments
bill is passed
The amendments made to the Hearing Aid Dispensing law this year include:
- The definition of 'audiology' in the General Business Law refers back to the provisions of Article 159, which licenses all audiologists in the State
- Makes provisions for audiologists who are completing their practical experience and who want to dispense hearing aids to be granted temporary registration and exempts those individuals from classroom components of Article 37A
- Allows for dispensing audiologists to satisfy continuing education requirements via satisfaction of similar requirements under Article 159
- Changes language for the medical waiver to be consistent with the federal waiver wording
- Eliminates the provisions requiring audiologists to use a disclaimer that a hearing test was not an audiological evaluation, but still requires a statement that it is not a medical examination. Still requires non-audiologist dispensers to state that it is neither an audiological evaluation nor a medical examination.
- Allows a hearing aid to be returned within one year of acquisition if a licensed physician qualified in diseases of the ear disputes the need for its dispensing.
- Provides that in the event a hearing aid is returned within 45 days period, a dispenser may retain up to ten percent of the total purchase price of the hearing aids, including batteries and cords or accessories, and further including all fees related to dispensing such hearing aids
- Requires that any physician who dispenses hearing aids (not for profit) shall comply with various provisions of Article 37A- primarily consumer related sections.
Universal newborn hearing screening
The law requiring all newborns to have there hearing screened is on its way to implementation. The initial deadlines were postponed secondary to various issues related to implementation, including formulation of regulations for the program.
Lynn Spivak of Long Island Jewish/North Shore Medical Group is a member of that advisory group and has been active participant in its activities.
LISHA members need to support our state organization to advance legislation that is important to our practices as Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists.
NYSSLHA has outlined a 2001 agenda to include:
- Enact the Highest Qualified Provider legislation to ensure that students in schools have access to most appropriate services to enable them to attain the higher learning standards
- Identify funding for the Newborn Hearing Screening program and facilitate development of regulations to aggressively implement this program
- Monitor the implementation of the hearing aid dispensing statute and related regulations
- Facilitate development of regulations for continuing competency requirements
- Advance legislation related to ENG testing by licensed Audiologists
- Address the issue of supervision for out-of- state Audiology candidates
- Address the issue of increasing caseloads for school-based Speech Language Pathologists
- Address issues related to the Early Intervention program in the Department of Health
- Seek mandatory insurance coverage for annual audiology and speech-language pathology services
Lobby day is may 8, 2001 in Albany. Please join us to advocate for our professions. Any interested LISHA member can contact
kmcclosk@mail.techpark.sunysb.edu
Federal Legislation Update
Budget bill passed by both houses and signed by President Clinton
12/15/00 included:
- A 23% increase in overall IDEA funding, may ease caseload burdens
- An additional year of relief from the Medicare $1500 therapy cap, extended through 2002
- Doubling of funds for early hearing detection and intervention
- Increased funds for research- NIH 14% increase
ASHA's 2001 public policy agenda can be found on the advocacy section
at www.asha.org.
Thank you to all LISHA members who have contacted their legislators to
support these issues. Your efforts do make the difference.
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