Preserving Patient Safety

Background

Several organizations continue to pursue legislation that would remove existing physician referral requirements in the Medicare program. Hearing and balance disorders are medical conditions that require a full patient history and physical examination by a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) for proper diagnosis and treatment.

While audiologists are valued health professionals who work for and with physicians, they do not possess the medical training necessary to perform the same duties as physicians, nor are they able to provide patients with the full range of medical diagnosis and treatment options. The Academy opposes any legislation that would allow audiologists to independently diagnose and treat the medical conditions associated with hearing loss.

Ensuring Patient Safety for Hearing Healthcare

In the 117th and 118th Congress, lawmakers in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives introduced very similar legislation. That legislation was opposed by the AAO-HNS and over 100 state and local medical organizations. In large part due to this opposition from the medical community, that legislation did not pass.

In the current 119th Congress, lawmakers in the House of Representatives have again introduced the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (H.R. 2757/S. 1996), which would inappropriately expand the scope of practice for audiologists and put Medicare beneficiaries at risk by undermining physician-led team care. The legislation is opposed by the AAO-HNS and 86 national, state, and local medical organizations.

Resources

• Call to Action: Urge Congress to Protect Patients & Oppose H.R. 2757
• Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2025 (H.R. 2757)
• AAO-HNS Coalition Letter Opposing the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act (H.R. 2757)