Bill Summary for H 72 (2021-2022)

Printer-friendly: Click to view

Summary date: 

Feb 11 2021

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2021
House Bill 72 (Public) Filed Thursday, February 11, 2021
AN ACT TO UPDATE THE GENERAL STATUTES OF NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF AUDIOLOGY TO BETTER REFLECT THE CHANGES IN EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF NORTH CAROLINA CITIZENS.
Intro. by Lambeth, K. Baker, White, Cunningham.

View: All Summaries for BillTracking:

Bill summary

Includes whereas clauses. Makes the following changes to Article 22 of GS Chapter 90 concerning the licensure of audiologists.

Amends GS 90-292 to include protection of the public from unqualified persons to the State's declared policy concerning licensing audiologists and speech and language pathologists. 

Modifies and adds to the defined terms set out in GS 90-293. Now defines audiologist to mean any person who is qualified by education, training, and clinical experience and is licensed under Article 22 to engage in the practice of audiology (was more generally any person who engages in the practice of audiology). Adds that an audiologist is an independent hearing health care practitioner providing services in hospitals, clinics, schools, private practices, and other settings in which audiologic services are relevant. Expands on the services a person offers which deem the person to be or hold him or herself out to be an audiologist, including hearing aid audiologist and hearing specialist. Adds that an association, company, or trust is included in the defined term person, and that any reference to a licensed person means a natural, individual person. Replaces the definition given for the practice of audiology, now defining the term to mean the application of principles, methods, and procedures related to disorders of the auditory and vestibular systems, and gives a nonexhaustive list of areas of audiology practice. Expands the practice of speech and language pathology to include evaluation, treatment and instruction related to the development and disorders of communication and cognitive-communication. Makes technical changes. 

Makes organizational and technical changes to GS 90-294 regarding the exclusion of individuals licensed to fit and sell hearing aids under GS Chapter 93D from the scope of the Article. Makes further technical changes. 

Enacts GS 90-294A to authorize licensed audiologists to treat minors with hearing impairment. Prohibits persons not licensed under the Article or licensed to practice medicine from making an assessment or managing health care services of a minor for hearing impairment treatment. Authorizes licensed audiologists to provide clinical treatment, home intervention, family support, case management and other audiologic services to minors. Further authorizes audiologists to participate in the development of individualized educational programs and consult on individual classroom matters. Authorizes audiologists to administer hearing screening programs in school and train and supervise nonaudiologists performing hearing screening in an educational setting. 

Amends GS 90-295 to remove the specific hour requirements for certain areas in meeting the clinical experience hours required for permanent licensure as a speech and language pathologist; maintains the 400 hour minimum clinical hour requirement. 

Makes the above changes effective October 1, 2021. 

Allows the Board of Examiners for Speech and Language Pathologists and Audiologists to adopt temporary rules to implement the act.