OTOLARYNGOLOGISTS should know what constitutes a good bill for licensing hearing aid dealers and fitters if they are to discharge successfully their responsibility as advisors to those seeking to serve the hearing handicapped through legislative enactment.
To date, 24 states have adopted measures to provide for such licensing. One bill which appears to have great merit is California Assembly Bill No. 532, approved in September 1970. This new law is ideal in serving most effectively the diverse interests of the patient, physician, and hearing aid dealer.
The California bill stems from nearly three years of intensive study and compromise. It is an exemplary bill designed to ensure ethical and professional services to those patients who have hearing impairments. Concern for patient service underlies all provisions of the act.
In general, the California bill is intended to improve overall performance in the fitting and marketing of hearing aids by regulating the
. . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]
