Legislation/Regulation
HHP is the only organization representing the exclusive interest of today’s hearing aid specialist in the legislative and regulatory arena. HHP keeps members informed about key legislative issues by posting important information on this page. Instant alerts are also sent to members via email when a legislative or regulatory issues requires immediate consideration.
SLPAHADB Offer New Course Regulations:
To support knowing about the changed in Contining Education Requirements a copy of Title 16, Chapter 13.3 Hearing Aid Dispensers Regulations Article 7. Continuing Education Proposed Language is provided for your review.
SB 515/AB 1189: After January 1, 2014, a producer, wholesaler, or retailer shall not offer a household battery for sale in this state or offer a household battery for promotional purposes in this state...... Learn more.
SB 690: This bill is sponsored by the California Optometric Association. It would prohibit a health care service plan or health insurance carrier from discriminating against any health care provider who is acting within the scope of his/her practice. The bill however does not require the health plan to contract with any provider willing to abide by the terms of the contract. Learn more.
SB 544: This bill was gutted and amended on 4.14.11. It looks like an introduction of SB 1111 from last year. To learn more.
SB 933: As of 4.11.11 the Board's consolidation of bill SB 933 (Runner) passed out of the Senate Business and Professions Committee, on consent calendar. Go here for the Committee analysis.
This bill will repeal the Hearing Aid Dispensers Law, abolish the Hearing Aid Dispenser Account, rename the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Licensure Act as the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dspensers Licensure Act and revise that act to include the licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary provisions applicable to hearing aid dispensers under the Hearing Aid Dispensers Law. Read SB 933. Review SB 933 Chart and Review the Hearing Aid Law. Your legislative advocate T. Shannon and Executive Director, T. Hunter have meet about any concerns or issues with this bill. They will keep you informed. SB 933 will be put over until April 11th.
Emergency regulations for Audiology Fees:
From the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board finds the adoption of regulations on an emergency basis is necessary to conform existing regulations governing the practice of audiology and hearing aid dispensing in California. Learn more about what required this immediate action.
Notice of Proposed Emergency Regulations
Finding of Emergency Regulations
Emergency Regulation for Audiology Fees
SB 933 (Runner): This bill would take the Code sections re4lating to hearing aid dispensers and renumber them. Please review.
The State legislature is pushing to have a budget done by March 30, 2011. Two ways will be used; 1) the proposed cuts if the tax increases pass; 2) the cuts will take place if the tax increases do not pass. The idea is to get groups to advocate to pass the tax increases. HHPCA will keep you posted if hearing aids become a part of this. As of this posting 2.10.11 we are still only dealing with the cap.
Budget Language for Hearing Aides to be presented in committee on 2.1.11
Quick Summary of Governor Brown's 2011-12 Proposed Budget
As expected the budget proposes major health care cuts. The Medi-Cal cuts start on page 19 of the document. Note the Governor is proposing "hard caps" on many services, including a $1,510 cap on hearing aids. These cuts were rejected by the Legislature last year. The Governor intends to have a budget enacted by March 1, and also passage of a 5-year extension of temporary tax increases that were enacted two years ago. The tax extension would be placed on the June ballot and have to be approved by a majority of the people. Here are some other documents for your consideration.
2011 Legislative Session Started
On January 3, 2011, the California Legislature reconvened. Review a list of the of Assembly Committee Chairs and the members.
You can also review the Legislative Calendars for both the Assembly and the Senate.
Records Required
Statute 3366: A licensee shall, upon consummation of a sale of a hearing aid, keep and maintain records in his office or place of business at all times and each such record shall be kept and maintained for a seven-year period. These records shall include:
- (a) Results of test techniques as they pertain to fitting of the hearing aid.
- (b) A copy of the written receipt required by Section 3365 and the written recommendation and receipt required by section 3365.5 when applicable.
Potential Violation of Section 650 of B&P Code: HHPCA has recieved information concerning that referring a client to the workers compensation attorney could be considered a violation of Section 650 of the Business and Professions Code. Tom Nantanis has provided HHPCA a response to this concern.
AB 583: The revisions to the amendement are available for your review.
Hearing Aid Awareness Resolution ACR 169 is now enacted and can be reviewed.
Laws & Regulations Relating to the Practice of Hearing Aid Dispensing as of May 2007.
This 47 page document outlines the Laws, Regulations, and Related Laws pertaining to Hearing Aid Dispensing.
Official Documents About Hearing Aids & MediCal
We are providing information for you about the Governor's proposal for the May revise. Hearing aids will continue to be covered up to 1500/year. Our lobbyist Tim Shannon and Amnon Shalev were instrumental in winning this battle. Thank you for all your letters and help. We need to make sure this stays in the budget but at least we are supporting what is in the budget instead of getting something changed. Please continue to write letters or make phone calls or send emails supporting the May revise language submitted by the Govenor. Review two important documents. Hearing Aid Fact Sheet and Hearing Aid Language.
Stay in touch with SLPAHADB! The previous system for getting email updates is changes so visit https://www.dca.ca.gov to reapply to receive their email updates
Calpeek California Political Week #23 for 2011
Calpeek California Political Week #22 for 2011
Calpeek California Political Week 19 for 2011
Calpeek California Political Week #16 for 2011
Calpeek California Political Week #15 for 2011
Calpeek California Political Week #14 for 2011
Calpeek California Political Week #11 for 2011
Calpeek California Political Week #10 for 2011
Calpeek California Political Week #9 for 2011
Calpeek California Political Week #8 for 2011.
Calpeek California Political Week #7 for 2011
Calpeek California Political Week #5 for 2011
Calpeek California Political Week #4 for 2011
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No.1 on Health and Human Services: This subcommittee met April 26th-see agenda. Tim Shannon testified on behalf of HHP/CA opposing the cuts of elimination of adult optional benefits including the elimination of hearing aids. The subcommittee voted to reject.
Senate Bill 1111:
This bill, which was opposed by HHPCA failed in the Senate Business & Professions Committee.
A bill that describes new discipline issues for any health care licensee. Review this bill.
Audiology Aides: The SLPAB is reviewing it current statutor and regulatory provisions governing the use of audiology support personnel in the state. A survey is being conducted. You can review all the information related to this issue.
House Exempts Hearing Aids from Medical Device Tax: The HHPCA Executive Director has provided HHPCA with information that the House has exempted hearing aids from the Medical Device Tax. Read all about this important information.
Resolution Across Counter Hearing Aids: This resolution has been pulled and HHPCA will be working with the author to write a resolution of importance to hearing health.
Report from Sacramento: Read the the Inaugural Report from Sacramento.
Changes to Audiology & Hearing Aid Dispensing Bureau
The changes ocurred as part of an omnibus bill (a bill that carries a lot of non controversial changes for all jurisdictions under this committee). Review the changes that affect audiologists.
Health Access Information: A health care fight is coming and it is important to keep in touch with your local legislators! All politics are local and we need them to fight to keep hearing aids in the budget. Secretary Kim Belshe stated that if the federal money the Governor believes is owed to California fails to materialize another $3.5 billion in health and human services cuts will be made. Included will be all optional benefits and medical supplies, including hearing aids. Read more about these monster cuts.
Legislation
2011 California Session Schedule
Photos of California Constitutional Offices, Assembly Members & Senators 2010-2011
Assembly Roster as of December 6, 2010
Final Bills Tracked for 2010
The final outcome of the bills we tracked this year and gave testimony on. AB 1600 by Perez is being recognized nationally as the first legislation in the Reform package.
ACR came out of a Resolution to request the FDA to approve "over the counter" hearing aids. HHP/CA was successful in convincing the author that this proposal was not good for the consumer. She gutted the bill and did a resolution on hearing aid awareness instead! If you are in her district, please thank her.
AB 2072 was opposed by SLPAHADB because it set criteria for disclosure that practitioners thought may be in conflict with patient needs. This bill was vetoed.
AB 583 is a bill that requires healthcare practitioners to disclose, in a letter to their clients, your license, education, and certificatioin. Hearing Aid Dispensers were eliminated from this bill.
AB 2130 re-establishes the sunset review process and sets the date for a number of borads including SLPAHADB. The board is in the process of submitting their report.
Read the status on these bill as of 10.4.2010
Legislative Calendar for 2010 is now available.
Tools To Communicate & Work With Legislators
HHPCA Executive Director and the Board of Directors is making the following information available to support you in managing this new legislative year and to prepare for Lobby Day which will be held March 11th.
- Learn how to attend a district meeting when the representative is present
- Know how to set up a visit with your representative
- Learn tips how to contact your representative with specific tips on email and letter writing.
Bill Folder
Bill Folders contain a list of legislative bills important to HHP members. .
How to find a state elected official
Other Legislative Information
Regulatory Issues
New as well as changes to current regulations are very important to HHP members. Important information about regulatory issues will be posted here and there will be instant alerts via email when an important matter needs consideration.
Political Action Committee—PAC
The HHPCA PAC supports local representatives and legislation that is in the best interest of HHP and their patients. Any member that contributes to the PAC will receive a certificate of appreciation presented by the President of HHP at the annual convention. If you have any questions about the HHPCA PAC, please call us at 916-447-1975 or email us at hhpca@hhpca.org
Please consider contributing to the PAC today. We put your donations to good use. We have created a PAC Contributions Form for your convenience.
Links to State Government Agencies
| www.ca.gov | California State Official Web Site |
| www.gov.ca.gov | Governor Schwarzenegger Official Web Site |
| www.senate.ca.gov | California State Senate |
| www.assembly.ca.gov | California State Assembly |
| www.leginfo.ca.gov | Official California Legislative Information |
| www.lao.ca.gov | California’s Nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office |
| www.ss.ca.gov | California’s Secretary of the State |
Links to Federal Government Agencies
| www.whitehouse.gov | The White House |
| www.senate.gov | United States Senate |
| www.clerkweb.house.gov | Office of the Clerk, US House of Representatives |
Links to Hearing Health Care Providers
| www.dca.ca.gov/hearingaid/ | Hearing Aid Dispenser Bureau |
| www.dca.ca.gov | Department of Consumer Affairs |
| www.dhs.ca.gov | Department of Health Services |
| www.dhcs.ca.gov | Medi-Cal Provider Information |
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