ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND — On May 29, 2024, Maryland enacted SB 795 and HB 464, aligning its audiology practice act with the education, training, and qualifications of audiologists practicing in the state.
Drs. Jana Brown, Briana Bruno Holtan, Melissa Segev, and Alicia Spoor, members of the Maryland Academy of Audiology (MAA), spearheaded the initiative. They drafted the legislation, provided testimony, and engaged with stakeholders to secure legislative support. The Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) supported the initiative with a letter of endorsement earlier this year.
The bills, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, clarify that audiologists in Maryland are authorized to “evaluate, diagnose, manage, and treat auditory or vestibular conditions in the human ear.” Effective October 1, 2024, the new law updates Maryland’s statutory definition of the Practice of Audiology to include:
- Prescribing, ordering, selling, dispensing, or externally fitting a sound processor to an osseo-integrated device or cochlear implant.
- Conducting health screenings.
- Removing a foreign body from the external auditory canal, provided it does not require anesthesia.
- Removing cerumen from the external auditory canal, provided it does not require anesthesia.
- Ordering cultures and bloodwork testing related to auditory or vestibular conditions.
- Ordering and performing in-office nonradiographic scanning or imaging of the external auditory canal.
- Ordering radiographic imaging related to auditory or vestibular conditions.
“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.”
Jason Leyendecker, Au.D., ADA President, emphasized that Maryland now sets an example for the rest of the country. He praised the MAA’s efforts in advocating for licensure issues and encouraged audiologists nationwide to join or establish their state associations.
“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.”
–Jason Leyendecker, Au.D., ADA President
Read the updated House 646 bill text here.
Source: ADA, MAA
