2010 Tennessee Code
Title 49 - Education
Chapter 7 - Postsecondary and Higher Education Generally
Part 27 - Hearing Aids
49-7-2701 - Dispensation by graduate students of audiology.

49-7-2701. Dispensation by graduate students of audiology.

(a)  Graduate students of audiology enrolled in hearing centers at postsecondary education institutions established, operated and governed by the state may dispense hearing aids to:

     (1)  Students enrolled in the institution;

     (2)  Persons served by the division of rehabilitation services of the department of human services;

     (3)  Persons served by the committee for speech and hearing services of the department of health; and

     (4)  Persons who qualify under federal poverty income guidelines as published annually in the Federal Register.

(b)  The sole purpose of authorizing graduate students of audiology to engage in clinical experiences is to provide the necessary training for:

     (1)  Graduation from the postsecondary education institution;

     (2)  Certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); and

     (3)  Licensure by the state.

(c)  Graduate students of audiology may evaluate, prescribe and fit hearing aids for private-pay patients under the following conditions:

     (1)  Before services are provided to any private-pay patient, the patient must be informed in writing of the educational purpose of the hearing center and the center's hearing aid procurement and dispensing practices that are designed to minimize competition with private audiologists and hearing aid dispensers;

     (2)  The written statement shall also provide that if a hearing aid is prescribed for a private-pay patient, it shall be the responsibility of the patient to procure the prescribed hearing aid from a private dispenser in accordance with the following:

          (A)  The patient will be provided a written prescription indicating, by make, model and other pertinent specifications, the hearing aid to be procured;

          (B)  The patient will be provided a list of licensed private dispensers that have agreed in writing as follows:

                (i)  To provide hearing aids prescribed by graduate audiology students at a price agreed upon by the dispenser and the patient;

                (ii)  To have the hearing aid shipped directly from the manufacturer to the hearing center. The postsecondary educational institution shall be responsible for the delivery of the hearing aid to the appropriate patient; and

                (iii)  To direct any questions or comments regarding the prescribed hearing aid to the staff of the hearing center and not to the patient;

          (C)  Private hearing aid dispensers who violate their agreements with a center shall be notified in writing of the violation. The center shall notify the private hearing aid dispenser that further violations may, at the discretion of the hearing center, result in the removal of the hearing aid dispenser for one (1) year from the list of cooperating dispensers; and

          (D)  Private hearing aid dispensers who enter into an agreement with the hearing center at a postsecondary educational institution shall not be responsible for providing additional services, other than those relating to a trial period and associated rental fees as prescribed by the state; and

     (3)  No staff member of the hearing center shall suggest or recommend a specific hearing aid dispenser when providing a patient a list of hearing aid dispensers.

[Acts 1993, ch. 464, § 2.]