SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2874

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 10, 2024

      The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2874.

     As amended, this bill allows audiologists and hearing aid dispensers to prescribe and order hearing aids under certain circumstances.

      Pursuant to current law, audiologists may dispense and fit hearing aids if the audiologist has successfully completed an accredited program of coursework and clinical training in the dispensing and fitting of hearing aids.  The bill authorizes audiologists to also select, prescribe, and order hearing aids, if the audiologist has successfully completed an accredited program of coursework and clinical training in the selection, prescribing, ordering, dispensing and fitting of hearing aids.  Additionally, hearing aid dispensers, who are also currently required to be tested on the fitting of hearing aids, will be allowed under the bill to order and prescribe hearing aids.

     This bill is in response to changes by the United States Food and Drug Administration to the rules that categorize hearing aids.  The new rules established classifications for hearing aids.  This bill recognizes the new class of prescription hearing aids and incorporates prescribing into the scope of practice and training for licensed audiologists.

     As amended and reported, Senate Bill No. 2874 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 4091 (1R), which was also reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

The committee amended the bill to add ordering and prescribing hearing aids to the definition of the services provided by a hearing aid dispenser.