Senate Bill 700, designed to amend the Florida Audiology Practice Act, has been introduced on behalf of a New York for profit hearing aid distribution company - Redesign Health, which is a parent company of Listen Lively, a distributor for GN Resound. Redesign Health are well funded, including support by the Koch Brothers.
The proposed legislation would permit patients to waive an audiological evaluation (hearing test) prior to the purchase of hearing aids. This would potentially place consumer safety at risk and reduced patient satisfaction with amplification, which are carefully selected by audiologists for proper fitting based on a patient's degree of hearing loss and speech discrimination scores.
The legislation has been fast-tracked and attached to a major piece of Legislation on Telehealth that is scheduled to be heard in committee today. They are calling this "An Act Relating to Hearing Aid Consultations and Sales". This will, at best, de-value the skills employed and caregiving administered by audiologists. If you are a practitioner and/or care enough to advocate, please cut and paste this letter:
Dear Senator:
Re: S 700 Amendment 302884
It has come to my attention that Senate Bill 700 to amend the Florida Audiology Practice Act (Chapter 468 of the REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS) has been introduced on behalf of a New York For Profit hearing aid distribution company, i.e., Redesign Health parent of Lively Hearing aids. Lively is the distributor for a Danish hearing aid manufacturer, Resound Hearing.
The proposed legislation would permit patients, including children, to waive Audiology evaluations prior to the purchase of hearing aids. Eliminating these requirements would place consumer safety at risk and reduce patient satisfaction with hearing aids.
· Patient satisfaction in the U.S. when the patient is evaluated and then fit by an audiologist with hearing aids is the highest in the world and exceeds 81% of persons purchasing hearing aids. This compares to 39% satisfaction in countries like Japan that do not include the professional evaluation as a part of the fitting process.
· By adding the language “client provides a medical clearance or a waiver of medical examination” prior to every procedure places an undue burden on the consumer. The consumer would have the ability to waive all medical and audiology services prior to purchasing a medical device or they would have to seek an additional medical appointment which increases the expense to the patient and is a barrier to quality hearing care.
· The purpose of the audiology examination is to diagnose, manage, and then develop appropriate treatment plans for the patient which may include the fitting of hearing aids. The inclusion of a waiver is contrary to the best interest of patients with hearing loss. They may have ear disease and/or co-morbidities contributing or causing their ear disease which can be medically or surgically treated.
· Individuals with hearing loss are 3 times more likely to have a fall related injury.
· Risk of dementia is 5 times more likely with individuals with hearing loss.
· Hearing loss is twice as likely with individuals with diabetes.
· Hospitalizations are 32% more likely with older adults who have hearing loss that have not been properly managed and treated.
The Florida Practice Acts, including Chapter 468 of the REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS passed by the Florida legislature are a safety mechanism for both the general public and professionals. These acts mainly address the rights and obligations that affect and protect patients, including children. Eliminating these requirements would place consumer safety at risk.
I am asking you to oppose S700 Amendment #302884. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
And e-mail to:
diaz.manny@flsenate.gov, brodeur.jason@flsenate.gov, albritton.ben@flsenate.gov, baxley.dennis.web@flsenate.gov, bean.aaron@flsenate.gov, book.lauren.web@flsenate.gov, cruz.janet@flsenate.gov, farmer.gary@flsenate.gov, Garcia.Ileana@flsenate.gov, jones.shevrin@flsenate.gov, rodriguez.anamaria@flsenate.gov, hearingaids@deafkidscan.org
Thank you.
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