A bill introduced in the state House of Representatives would allow audiologists to diagnose and treat hearing problems without first having the patient examined by a physician.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) opposes House Bill 1653 because there are a number of medical pathologies that must be diagnosed by a physician that can lead to hearing problems. These range from simple ear infections and colds to more serious conditions like Wegener’s granulomatosis, an inflammation of the blood vessels.
“These hearing and speech professionals are very good at what they do. They are well-trained and, like myself, care very deeply about their patients,” Lancaster otolaryngologist Karen Rizzo, MD, said in testimony before the House Professional Licensure Committee on June 8. Dr. Rizzo is vice chair of the PAMED Board of Trustees.
But she added that they do not have the “necessary skills to accurately diagnosis medical pathologies in a patient who is experiencing hearing loss or speech-related problems.”
PAMED also opposes a provision in the bill that would remove one physician from the State Board of Examiners in Speech Language and Hearing and not require that remaining physician slot be an otolaryngologist.
“I cannot understand the rationale in eroding the clinical effectiveness of this board by lessening physician involvement,” Dr. Rizzo said.
Similar legislation, Senate Bill 710, introduced by Sen. John Gordner (R-Columbia) early in 2009, is currently under review by the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee. PAMED lobbyists are working with committee staff and the prime sponsor to amend and clarify existing language.