Advocacy
Current NCAA Legislative and Policy Issues
Update to NC Audiology Statutes
As we head into the 2022 legislative session our focus is on our "Audiology Updates" bill that will modernize the statutes governing the profession. Audiologists should be able to practice at the top of their license and serve their patients with all their knowledge, training and experience at their disposal. Current statutes were written 40 years ago and do not come close to covering the profession as it is currently practiced.
Exciting updates are available ONLY for NCAA members. Log in and access the Advocacy Center to learn more!
Audiology Assistants Enhancements
Audiology Assistants in North Carolina have been under-utilized when compared to their counterparts in other states. When the COVID-19 crisis broke, Governor Cooper passed an executive order that provided for the expansion of tele-health and tele-medicine practices for audiology assistants. Your NCAA saw this as an opportunity to make progress in this area and was successful in having the emergency declaration changed to a temporary rule. The Board of Examiners for Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists met in March and voted to support the change from a temporary to a permanent rule. The rule takes effect on June 1, 2021.
COVID-19 Legislation
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of our lives. The practice of Audiology has not been exempt from its impact. The General Assembly enacted some measures that affect the practice of audiology during the pandemic, including protections for practitioners. Your NCAA continues to monitor all state and federal actions related to the pandemic that may affect the practice. In 2020 the NC General Assembly enacted measures to protect practitioners during this crisis. You can find these protections by going to the “Access the Bill” button and scrolling down to page 25.
Interstate Compact
LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS!
Interstate Compact Ratified by 10 States!
Your North Carolina Audiology Association introduced and worked to ensure the passage of House Bill 1053, “PED/Military OL and Audiology Interstate Compact. The legislation, sponsored by Representatives Horn, Lucas, Boles, Corbin, Grange, Harrison, McNeill and Willingham and by Senator Wells made North Carolina a member of the Interstate Compact for Audiology and Speech Pathology.
The Compact increases public access to audiology and speech-language pathology services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses. The Compact enhances a state’s ability to protect the public's health and safety, enhances the exchange of licensure, investigative and disciplinary information between member states, allows for the use of tele- health technology to facilitate increased access to audiology and speech- language pathology services and supports the spouses of relocating active- duty military personnel.
The Compact became effective when Nebraska became the 10th state to ratify it on March 31st.
The compact benefits NC Audiologists because it
- Increases patient, client, and student access to care, particularly for underserved or geographically isolated populations.
- Facilitates continuity of care if patients relocate or travel.
- Certifies that audiologists and SLPs have met acceptable standards of practice.
Before the compact can issue privileges to practice, a new ASLP-IC Commission will be created to serve as the compact’s governing body. The commission, responsible for ASLP-IC oversight, will create required rules and bylaws over the next six to 12 months, with implementation expected in 2022.
