Wisconsin Legislative Council
ACT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Prepared by: Steve McCarthy, Senior Staff Attorney March 25, 2024
2023 Wisconsin Act 179
[2023 Senate Bill 373]
Selling and Fitting Over-the-
Counter Hearing Aids
BACKGROUND
A recent change to federal law allows air-conduction hearing aids for use by adults to be purchased over
the counter without a prescription or the involvement of a licensed person. Prior Wisconsin law
generally required that hearing aids must be provided by a licensed hearing instrument specialist or a
licensed audiologist.
2023 WISCONSIN ACT 179
2023 Wisconsin Act 179 specifies that a license is not required to sell or fit over-the-counter hearing
aids, as defined under federal law. This change generally allows over-the-counter hearing aids to be
purchased without a prescription or the involvement of a licensed person.
The act also removes the requirement that a hearing instrument specialist or audiologist must provide a
receipt when supplying over-the-counter hearing aids, and updates the scope of practice for hearing
instrument specialists and audiologists to include ordering the use of hearing aids.
Effective date: March 24, 2024
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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