UDIOLOGIST LICENSURE

Senate Bill 206 (Substitute H-4)

Sponsor:  Sen. Shirley Johnson

Senate Committee:  Health Policy

House Committee:  Health Policy

Addendum to SFA Analysis (2-18-04)

ADDENDUM TO SENATE FISCAL AGENCY ANALYSIS OF SB 206 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE DATED 6-3-03:

HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION:

 

The House Committee on Health Policy reported out a committee substitute made the following significant changes to the Senate-passed version:

·                    Protects only the titles of “audiometrist”, “audiologist”, “hearing therapist”, “hearing aid audiologist”, “educational audiologist”, “industrial audiologist”, and “clinical audiologist”.  (The title of “audioprosthologist” was deleted.)

·                    Specifies that the prohibition on engaging in the practice of audiology without a license would begin 120 days after the bill’s effective date.

·                    Deletes a requirement that physician and audiologist board members be selected from lists submitted by the Michigan Otolaryngological Society (physician members) and the Michigan Speech-language and Hearing Association and the Michigan Academy of Audiology (audiology members).

·                    Includes a person licensed under Article 13 of the Occupational Code (MCL 339.1301-1309), which pertains to hearing aid dealers and salespersons, in the list of professions that would not be limited by the bill’s requirements.

·                    Specifies that requirements for an audiology license include successful completion of an examination in audiology as described in the bill.

·                    Requires that applicants for licensure who have a doctoral degree in audiology also complete at least nine months of supervised clinical experience in audiology.  (The bill requires the same supervised experience of applicants with a Master’s degree.)

·                    Requires that the Department of Community Health, in conjunction with the board, provide that applicants for licensure pass an examination dealing with all aspects of the practice of audiology.  The department, in conjunction with the board, may develop its own examination and may promulgate rules to establish standards for that exam.  The rules could also adopt by reference, in whole or in part, an examination developed by an outside entity.  If so, rules could be promulgated to adopt by reference any subsequent supplement or update to that examination.

·                    Beginning on the bill’s effective date and until one or more examinations are developed or adopted by the department, adopts by reference and considers acceptable for the qualification of applicants the PRAXIS examination in audiology.  By June 30, 2005, the department, in conjunction with the board, would have to make a recommendation whether to develop its own exam, adopt an examination developed by an outside entity, or continue to accept the PRAXIS examination and subsequent updates.  The department would have to notify the House and Senate Standing Committees on health policy matters of the recommendation.

·                    Requires the department to grant a license to a person who, on the bill’s effective date, had been engaged in the practice of audiology and who meets the requirements for licensure contained in the bill, applies for licensure, and who presented proof of passing any past or present version of the PRAXIS examination in audiology or other approved exams as specified in the bill.

·                    Requires, beginning the license year after the effective date of the rules promulgated pertaining to continuing education, licensees seeking license renewal to meet continuing education requirements.  An applicant for license renewal would have to present acceptable evidence of the successful completion of at least 10 clock hours of continuing education in subjects acceptable to the board that had been completed during the preceding license year.

For a fuller discussion of the bill, including the fee structure designed to offset the costs of regulating the profession, consult the Senate Fiscal Agency’s analysis dated 6-3-03 on the Michigan Legislature web site. 

POSITIONS:

The Michigan Health & Hospital Association supports the bill.  (2-17-04)

Representative of the following organizations indicated support for the bill on 2-17-04):

The Michigan Academy of Audiology

The Michigan Educational Audiology Association

The Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Central Michigan University

The Department of Community Health

Crittenton Hospital Medical Center

University of Michigan Medical Center

West Michigan Hearing Service

The Michigan State Medical Society

The Michigan Osteopathic Association

A representative of the Commission on Disability Concerns – Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing indicated that the commission was neutral on the bill.  (2-17-04)

A representative of the Michigan Hearing Aid Society indicated that the society was not opposed to the bill.  (2-17-04)

                                                                                                                                                Legislative Analyst:  Susan Stutzky                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                          

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.