ASSEMBLY REGULATED PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 4091
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
The Assembly Regulated Professions Committee reports favorably
and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4091.
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 authorize
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.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT S:
The committee amended the bill to add ordering and prescribing
hearing aids to the definition of the services provided by a hearing aid
dispenser.