A hearing has been scheduled for LB 593, The Hearing Instrument Specialists Act, which would expand the scope of practice for hearing instrument specialists, including cerumen management services.
- The hearing date is Wednesday, February 22nd at 1:30 pm in room 1510 at the Capitol.
- We are looking for any members who are available to testify in person at the hearing. If you are able to testify, please contact Sam Gillespie ([email protected]; 402-758-5327).
- Those who testify will need to bring 12 printed copies of their testimony to the hearing for committee members.
We are requesting that members submit comments to oppose the bill using the steps below:
To submit comments, use the online portal. Here are the steps:
- LB593 bill page: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50533
- Click “submit comments”
- Check “yes” box to include in hearing record
- Fill out all contact fields, legislative district and check “opponent” box
- Enter written comments and submit
* Note, they will receive an email within minutes of submitting their comments to confirm – they just need to click the link in the email they receive.
Talking Points to Consider:
1. The inclusion of cerumen management in the scope of practice of Hearing Instrument Specialists (HIS).
- Cerumen management services are beyond the training of an HIS and require extensive
- education to acquire the knowledge of anatomy and medical disorders affecting the ear.
- This legislative proposal poses a health and safety concern for Nebraskans.
- The current bill language does not specify the additional training/educational requirements
- necessary for hearing instrument specialists to include cerumen management in their scope of
- practice; e.g. type of training, length of training, who will oversee training.
- The language “entering into an arrangement with a medical liaison” is not clear regarding what
- specific “arrangement” will be created or who will be responsible for oversight.
2. The current scope of practice of HIS in the State of Nebraska is related to the sale of hearing aids, which is consistent with the education and training requirements for HIS licensees. Legislative bill 593 poses a health and safety concern for Nebraskans.